LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday and rescue teams raced to northern areas hardest hit by a pair of powerful earthquakes that killed at least 164 people. Many more were feared dead.

The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck Wednesday evening were among the strongest in Venezuela in more than a century and were felt throughout the region.

Nearly 1,000 people were injured, and thousands were reported missing across the country.