Venezuela earthquakes live updates: At least 164 dead after massive twin tremors

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening.

Dozens of people were killed and hundreds of others were injured as a pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said in a televised address.

The two quakes -- a 7.2 magnitude one followed just seconds later by a 7.5 -- struck the coast of Venezuela, knocking down buildings in Caracas, the capital, and sending residents racing into the street.

Emergency responders were undertaking "intensive rescue operations" early on Thursday, searching for people thought to be under the rubble, Rodriguez said.

Secretary of State Rubio said he spoke with Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, and he said the U.S. is sending search and rescue teams.

“We’re maybe already deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles. There'll be some others we'll add,” Rubio said.

"The airport there is badly damaged, so we'll have to rely on the Department of War to deploy assets there, and then we're also helping them with some overhead imagery, especially in coastal areas where they don't have full visibility over what the damage has been and what the impact has been,” Rubio said.

He said the administration would have "a better assessment" of Venezuela’s longer-term needs “when we're on the ground.”

Rubio declined to put a dollar amount on the aid the U.S. would commit to Venezuela, saying it was too soon.

He said Qatar, El Salvador, Chile and other countries have also offered to help.

At least 164 people were dead and another 971 people were injured after two strong earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said early on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.

Emergency crews were searching early on Thursday through rubble in Venezuela for potential survivors after two strong quakes struck on Wednesday evening.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said she had declared a state of emergency, saying the quakes had turned at least one area -- the state of La Guaira -- to a "disaster zone."

"Dozens of buildings have collapsed there, about 30 kilometers north of Caracas, and we are currently carrying out intensive rescue operations to save lives," she said during a televised address, according to The Associated Press.

She said there was severe damage in the capital Caracas and other areas in the aftermath of the quakes.

Rodriguez said her office received reports of at least 32 deaths and more than 700 injuries.