AS news of the earthquake in Venezuela spread across Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, many Venezuelans living in Trinidad spent hours trying to contact relatives and friends back home.Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other. The first measured magnitude 7.2, while the second, measuring 7.5, struck in a similar location just 38 seconds later. At least 188 people have been confirmed dead as rescue efforts continue.Venezuelan Alejandro Silva, originally from Guiria, who has been living in Trinidad for the past five years, responded to the disaster in an interview with the Express.“So far, things are orderly because the government has everything under control. I haven’t heard of any looting or anything like that happening. The earthquake was terrible. I don’t think we’ve ever experienced a disaster like that in Venezuela. My friend’s 20-year-old son, who had just started working in Caracas, is missing. I feel his family’s pain, and I pray they find him safe,” he said.He said he had planned to return home in July. “I was putting things aside to take home next month because I want to see my granddaughter, who is now three months old. But I will wait a while before I return,” Silva said.He said his family is safe. “Most of my family is in Catia La Mar and, as far as I have heard, they are fine, although several of my relatives’ homes in Caracas have sustained significant damage. Pray for Venezuela,” Silva said.Valentina Silva-Romero said she has been trying to reach her friends in Caracas but has not heard from them. “One of my cousins was injured while he was at work when the earthquake hit. I heard he suffered a serious head injury. I am hoping for good news. I know several people who were injured, but there are also friends I have not been able to reach. I have tried contacting some of them through Facebook, but I have heard nothing. I am waiting and praying. That is all I can do,” Silva-Romero said.Tony Carlos Rodríguez said that while his immediate family is safe, his sister’s home in Caracas was completely destroyed. “A lot of people have been injured. I know people who are still searching for friends and relatives who may be trapped under the rubble or are in hospital. My sister’s home is gone. I keep receiving WhatsApp messages and updates, and it is difficult to come to terms with this reality. It feels like a nightmare,” Rodríguez said.Another Venezuelan national, who asked to be identified only as Javier, said he spent hours anxiously waiting before receiving any news. “I was very worried because I could not reach my sister for almost two hours. She lives in Maturín but works in Caracas. She is safe, but her apartment in Caracas was destroyed. Today I was also told that no one has been able to contact one of my neighbours in Güiria. I heard he is missing, so I am waiting for news,” Javier said.In a brief phone interview director of La Casita Andreina Brown said she was trying to come to terms with the news.“Today when I see the news, I cried. Everything is just horrible. I’m in a mess. Venezuelans have been coming here and crying. They have been calling my phone and crying,” she said.She added: “We had a gentleman by the name of Carlos Gonzales from La Casita. He’s an engineer. He went back home. But he’s missing. They are devastated.””Speaking by phone, director of La Romaine Migrant Support Group Angie Ramnarine said: “It’s sad. Devastating. The Venezuelans here are very sad. One boy in my class was worried about his grandmother. The majority of the migrants here come from Tucupita region which is not affected. They are from the Delta region. The destruction was unleashed at Caracas.”