Why Venezuela’s ‘doublet’ earthquakes were so devastating

The recent earthquakes in Venezuela, a rare "doublet" of two major quakes occurring in rapid succession, have resulted in almost 600 deaths and thousands of injuries. This devastating event highlights the country's vulnerability to seismic activity due to its location on the Caribbean-Cocos tectonic plate boundary. The back-to-back nature of the quakes compounded the destruction, overwhelming emergency services and infrastructure, which were already strained from previous natural disasters. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure in earthquake-prone regions.