The images that are beginning to emerge from Venezuela after this Wednesday's earthquakes paint a picture of fear and destruction.

The first earthquake to hit the country was recorded by the USGS as having a magnitude of 7.2, followed less than a minute later by a second magnitude 7.5 earthquake.

Photos from the capital Caracas show buildings completely collapsed as rescuers help people trapped in the rubble.

Many city residents were left without power and internet after the earthquakes, so communication has been difficult.

In the nearby state of La Guaria, multiple fallen buildings and damaged homes are also observed.

One of the most affected areas is La Guaira, north of Caracas, where, it was reported, “dozens” of buildings have collapsed.

The acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, described the state as a “disaster zone” and “a true tragedy.”

Images verified by the BBC show the aftermath of the earthquakes on the Venezuelan coast in La Guaira, where enormous destruction can be seen.

Venezuela's Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, appeared on national television and referred to the damage.

“Some buildings have collapsed, houses and homes have collapsed, we are attending to them with all the security and assistance and civil protection organizations,” Cabello said.

The minister did not refer to a number of deaths or injuries, saying they were still collecting information.

“This tremor was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967 (when an earthquake occurred in Caracas),” María Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner who lives south of the city, told Reuters. "The building was moving. The police helped me get down because I couldn't."

The earthquakes were felt on the other side of the border, in Colombia, in cities like Bogotá and Bucaramanga.