Thousands of Venezuelans were feared dead on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes wreaked havoc in and around the capital Caracas, trapping people beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings and setting off powerful aftershocks.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit about 160km west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by a magnitude 7.5 tremor, according to the US Geological Survey.

Rescuers search for survivors in collapsed buildings as USGS warns of potentially catastrophic casualties

Thousands feared dead as two powerful earthquakes devastate Venezuela, trapping residents and causing widespread destruction in Caracas.