A pair of powerful earthquakes that rocked Venezuela have killed at least 164 people, the country's leader said Thursday as residents searched for loved ones trapped under rubble after many buildings were flattened within minutes.

As pledges of aid pour in from around the world, acting President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of emergency.

Both quakes measured over 7.0 magnitude, with tremors being felt as far as more than a thousand miles away in Brazil’s Amazon region.