Older buildings, substandard construction and geography left many neighborhoods in Venezuela vulnerable to strong earthquakes like the ones that struck the country this week.

Engineers and other experts said the back-to-back earthquakes on Wednesday were among the most intense to hit the country in more than a century, leveling buildings and leaving more than 900 dead with the number expected to rise. Videos and satellite imagery from the disaster zone reviewed by The Associated Press reveal scores of multistory buildings had collapsed.

Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab analyzed satellite imagery of Catia La Mar in La Guaira state, one of the hardest hit cities along the Caribbean coast. Using AI-based damage assessment models, Microsoft determined that about a third of the city’s nearly 30,000 structures were damaged.

Among the factors that left so many structures at risk: Some housing complexes in northern Venezuela were constructed quickly during recent oil booms, and builders may not have adhered to best practices that mitigate the risks of serious seismic activity, according to experts.

Engineers said that older housing erected in the 1950s and 1960s — before modern earthquake standards were adopted — may not have been retrofitted to survive such violent shaking. And many buildings were constructed on geography and soft soils that compound the danger of the earthquakes, the experts said.

Tall buildings and older concrete contributed to damage

David Cocke, a structural engineer in California and former president of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, said that a combination of soft soils, tall towers and older concrete structures contributed to the widespread damage, particularly when buildings pancaked, or collapsed floor-by-floor.

“They just don’t have the more modern reinforcing steel connections that we put in those kinds of buildings today,” said Cocke.

Since the 1970s, engineers have known that concrete buildings are particularly susceptible to earthquakes and seek to reinforce new construction with steel. While many rich nations have forced property owners to retrofit or tear down dangerous buildings, many poorer or middle income countries have lagged in enforcing upgrades as they battled more immediate woes.

“Some of the more advanced countries like Japan and New Zealand and the U.S. have made those changes, but some of the other countries have not,” Cocke said. “It’s a very typical kind of construction all over the world.”

‘Soft stories’ and soft soil played a role

Other experts noted that a number of buildings that collapsed also had non-structural walls comprised of heavy bricks, or they had “soft stories” in which their ground floors consisted of garages or similar open spaces. Such construction increases the risk of pancaking, they said.

“Soft stories are a huge problem everywhere in the world,” said Eduardo Miranda, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. “And in Venezuela, they are particularly prevalent, and if you combine softer soils with a soft story, buildings can collapse.”

Marcos Ferreira, a geophysicist and researcher at the Geological Survey of Brazil, said the destruction in Venezuela was compounded by the back-to-back quakes, known as a doublet. A similar incident took place in Turkey and Syria in 2023, killing almost 60,000 people.

“It is as if I am screaming and then someone starts screaming, too,” Ferreira said. “That amplifies the vibration and adds to the potential hazard.”

Newer buildings also collapsed

Venezuelan government officials took steps following a deadly 1967 quake to update building codes. But it is unclear how many buildings were retrofitted to comply with those rules.

In late 1999, former President Hugo Chávez’s first year in office, floods and landslides destroyed housing, including in coastal northern Venezuela. The government went on a building spree to replaced the demolished structures and to house so many displaced people, said Juan Carlos Vielma, a Venezuelan civil engineer who is head of academic affairs of the civil engineering school at Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Chile.

The team at the nursery “do not agree with the inspector’s judgement”, a spokesperson said

A nursery in Cambridgeshire will challenge Ofsted after the regulator rated it as ‘needs attention’ in several areas. Lilliput Day Nursery in Peterborough, has been told it needs to improve in four areas.

A spokesperson for the nursery said they “do not believe [the Ofsted report] accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection”.

The areas that ‘needs attention’, according to Ofsted, include achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion and leadership and governance.

The report, which was published on Friday, June 19, said that staff implementation of the curriculum is “not yet consistent”. It said this means “children do not always receive the right opportunities to develop their skills in preparation for their next stage in learning”.

The Lincoln Road nursery offers full time and part time places for children aged up to five years old. The nursery received an overall grade of ‘requires improvement’ in its previous inspection in 2025.

The team at the nursery said they are disappointed with the report and plan to challenge the findings. A spokesperson said they believe they have “identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report”.

The report added: “Additionally, staff do not always correctly identify the barriers children face to their learning. For example, where children lack speech and language skills, staff do not always address the underlying cause, such as children’s confidence.”

Safeguarding standards were met. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, and children’s welfare and wellbeing were graded at ‘expected standard’.

The report also recognised that “children appear happy at the setting” and “demonstrate strong relationships with staff”. It added: “Children develop relationships with staff and look to them for comfort when they are feeling tired.

“This is particularly important for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities who look for reassurance. They cuddle up with staff, helping them to feel safe in their environment.”

The report found that children who speak English as an additional language are “not always supported well-enough to learn new words effectively”. In an example, inspectors said “they do not always hear clear, basic English and develop their understanding and English vocabulary”.

However, teaching of mathematics is “effective” and staff use “every opportunity to incorporate mathematical language”. The inspection determined that leaders are aware of “inconsistencies in the implementation of the curriculum, but the action taken is not yet enough to support staff effectively”.

Ofsted praised the staff for prioritising personal, social, emotional, and physical development. According to the report, staff support social interactions and turn taking skills throughout learning opportunities.

A spokesperson for Lilliput Day Nursery said: “Whilst we are extremely disappointed with this outcome, we do not agree with the inspector’s judgement. We have identified a number of factual inaccuracies within the report and do not believe it accurately reflects the quality of practice observed during the inspection. We are therefore challenging these findings.”

A neurologist said you should never ignore this

A neurologist has warned about a particular type of headache that could “kill you in hours”. He stressed that people “should not ignore” this headache, as it may be triggered by a potentially deadly infection.

Headaches are relatively commonplace. They can stem from colds or flu, dehydration, stress, vision issues, and skipping regular meals among other causes.

However, in certain instances they can indicate something far more severe. In a video posted to social media, neurologist Dr Baibing Chen cautioned that a headache resulting from meningitis is an “emergency”.

He said: “This headache can kill you in hours. And these are the warning signs that you should never ignore. Now, I want to say most headaches are not emergencies, but meningitis is different.”

Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can prove extremely serious and potentially fatal if not treated promptly. Dr Chen continued: “And it can be caused by things like viruses, bacteria, or even fungi.

“The bacterial form of meningitis is the one that scares us the most because it can become life-threatening very quickly. And that’s also one reason vaccines against bacteria like haemophilus, influenza type B, pneumococcus, and meningococcus have saved countless lives by preventing some of the most dangerous forms of bacterial meningitis.”

If you develop a headache alongside other meningitis symptoms, immediate medical attention is essential. Dr Bing explained: “The classic symptoms of meningitis are a severe headache, a high fever, a stiff neck and sensitivity to light.

“Some people also become confused, extremely sleepy or develop a purple rash that doesn’t fade when you press on it.”

The NHS website characterises a meningitis headache as “a severe headache that is getting worse”. Dr Bing cautioned that in its initial stages, meningitis may not present as a serious condition. He stated: “Early on, meningitis can look a lot like common viral illnesses.

“And that’s one reason people sometimes wait too long before seeking medical care. So if someone has these symptoms, especially if they’re not vaccinated, go to the emergency department immediately because getting evaluated and treated early gives doctors the best chance to identify the cause and start the right treatment as quickly as possible.”

Causes of meningitis

According to the NHS, meningitis can be caused by many different types of viruses or bacteria, which are spread through close contact with a person who has them. For example:

• Contact with the person’s spit, such as kissing them, or sharing drinks or vapes
• Being in close contact with the person for a lot of time, such as living in the same home

The infection is usually spread by people who carry these viruses or bacteria but are not ill themselves.

Although anyone can get it, meningitis is more common in:

• Babies and young children
• Teenagers and young adults
• Older people
• People with a weakened immune system – for example, people with HIV or having chemotherapy

It’s important to note that it’s possible to get meningitis more than once.

When to call 999

The NHS says you should call 999 or go to A&E if an adult or child aged five years or over:

• Has a very high or very low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivery
• Has a very painful headache
• Is confused, has slurred speech, or is not making sense
• Has a stiff neck and cannot look at bright lights
• Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
• Has a seizure (fit) for the first time
• Has symptoms you’re worried might be meningitis

You should also call 999 if a baby or child under five years:

• Has a very high temperature – 38C or more in babies under three months old, or 39C or more in babies three to six months old
• Has a very low temperature – less than 36C, or feels cold to the touch or is shivery
• Has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry
• Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
• Is not responding like they normally do, is not feeding, or is floppy, difficult to wake or more sleepy than usual
• Has symptoms you’re worried might be meningitis

For more information, visit the NHS website here.

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — The situation has grown more desperate by the hour in Venezuela as people dig through the rubble of collapsed homes and apartment buildings three days after the devastating one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes, knowing time is running out to find survivors.

Authorities announced Friday night that they would block access to La Guaira, the epicenter of the destruction, as chaos and traffic began to hamper search efforts. Officials said anyone who wants to enter would now have to seek official permits, but provided few details of who would be allowed in.

Venezuelans took the search for missing loved ones into their own hands, citing a scarcity of government rescuers, as the human toll of Wednesday’s quakes climbed to at least 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing. People reported seeing few state rescue teams in the hardest-hit areas, despite authorities projecting an image of a robust government response.

Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours to be a crucial time frame to retrieve people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water.

“Each person saved is a miracle,” said Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly. “We are not going to hide absolutely anything about the magnitude of this tragedy.”

Anxious families wait to see if relatives survived

In the state of La Guaira, just north of the capital, Caracas, Nazareth Jimenez sobbed into a loved one’s shoulder as she watched neighbors use hammers and power tools to try to cut through slabs of concrete in a building reduced to a mountain of debris. She was wracked with anxiety as she waited to see if her siblings, nephews, nieces and friends would emerge alive.

“My God, how are we going to get them out of there?” Jimenez murmured.

“We’re making a call for help to the government and countries across the world,” she said, pleading for machinery capable of moving collapsed structures. “There are still people alive in there.”

Government forces distributed food and water to survivors in La Guaira, and acting President Delcy Rodríguez said her government was mounting a full response during these “critical hours for rescuing people alive.”

She welcomed the arrival of international rescuers and humanitarian aid. She said La Guaira had been militarized and more help was on the way, even as residents said it was just a fraction of what they needed.

The disaster poses a huge challenge for Rodríguez, the former vice president who took office in January after the capture and removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. Venezuela has been facing economic disarray for more than a decade, and many people reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents.

The number of dead was expected to climb, and people reported tens of thousands of missing on independent digital databases. Those figures likely included people who have been incommunicado due to the lack of cellphone signals, and some reports may be duplicates.

The number of injured was more than 3,300 as of midday Friday, and authorities said they rescued 243.

Millions of people reeling

The International Organization for Migration said up to 6.76 million people could be affected, some 2 million of them in Caracas alone. The destruction was amplified by the quick succession of shallow quakes, experts said.

Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said “people are still terrified to reenter what were their homes.”

Indeed, many continued to sleep on the street.

Omar Reyes said around 20 family members died.

“I’ve been left alone in this life,” Reyes said, walking through the rubble where two of his children were buried.

In the city of Maiquetia, people lined up outside stores and pharmacies that served them one by one behind closed doors. At one point a woman in a crowd threw herself to the ground to protect a package of diapers with her body, desperate to keep it.

Traffic and throngs of motorcyclists at times disrupted search efforts. Mexican soldiers and volunteers repeatedly asked for silence to try to hear signs of life under the rubble, but bikers — civilian and uniformed — continued to honk horns and rev engines to the first responders’ frustration.

Some people began to carry off basic goods such as toilet paper and food from stores in Catia La Mar, adjacent to the country’s main airport. Others swarmed a civilian pickup truck that was giving out bread and water, until a soldier intervened. The parking lot of a pharmacy turned into a makeshift shelter with tarps, hammocks and tents.

A few miles away, Yuleidy Cadenas, 28, stood across the street from a collapsed public housing building, hoping her son, mother and brother would be pulled out alive.

She fled barefoot from another building as it collapsed Wednesday and found her mother’s 12-floor apartment tower had pancaked.

“I got on top of the rubble and told them to yell back, and nobody did, not my brother, nor my son or my mother,” Cadenas said.

International aid on the way

Venezuelan authorities said Friday that 861 volunteers from Mexico, the U.S., El Salvador, Switzerland, Colombia and beyond were in the country, and more were coming from elsewhere.

Acting President Rodríguez said she spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday and they reaffirmed their commitment to send rescue teams and aid equipment.

___

Janetsky reported from Mexico City. Associated Press journalists Clara Preve in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed.

Manchester United are in the midst of a midfield rebuild after losing Casemiro and now Bruno Fernandes’ future plans are in focus

Manchester United have already shown signs of this being an action-packed transfer window, and there could be a great deal more to come. Several high-profile players have confirmed their departures, and further ins and outs are anticipated.

On the incoming front, Ederson appears set to become the first of several big-money arrivals, with an eight-figure deal to bring in the Atalanta midfielder virtually sewn up. A number of permanent departures have already been rubber-stamped, with Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro the most notable, while Andre Onana is set for another year on loan at Trabzonspor rather than a permanent switch.

Last summer saw Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes dominate the headlines, and the pattern continues this year. Rashford’s spell at Barcelona on loan failed to produce a permanent transfer, leaving his future uncertain, while captain Fernandes rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League in 2025 but remains the subject of speculation.

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There is also fresh news surrounding another of United’s midfield targets as the squad rebuild gathers pace in the wake of Casemiro’s departure. Here are our latest updates from around Old Trafford.

Fernandes makes decision on future

Bruno Fernandes has informed his Manchester United team-mates that he intends to remain at the club, according to talkSPORT. A definitive verdict on the captain’s future is not anticipated until after the World Cup, though there is understood to be little concern that he could depart.

The Portugal international attracted interest from a number of Saudi clubs last summer but opted to remain where he was. Fresh reports have emerged of renewed attention from Gulf clubs this year, most notably Al Nassr, who could have the midfielder’s international manager Roberto Martinez in the dugout next season.

However, Fernandes’ decision to stay put is understood to be driven by family considerations and is therefore unlikely to shift.

The 31-year-old has started both of Portugal’s opening two World Cup group stage fixtures, registering an assist in the 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan. Martinez’s side require a victory in their final group match against Colombia to claim top spot, though they are still all but certain of a top-two finish even if they lose.

Nmecha won’t come cheap

Germany international Felix Nmecha is amongst the midfielders being considered by United as they look to bolster their engine room following Casemiro’s departure and a potential exit for Manuel Ugarte. However, landing the 25-year-old is likely to set them back a pretty penny.

Nmecha came through the ranks at Manchester City as a youngster and represented England at youth level, meaning he would qualify as a homegrown player. The asking price could prove a big obstacle, though, with Kicker reporting that his contract contains no release clause and his club Borussia Dortmund value him at £86million.

The 25-year-old was used sparingly during Germany’s World Cup qualifying campaign but has been a consistent presence for Julian Nagelsmann throughout the tournament itself, starting all three group stage matches and marking his major tournament debut with a goal in the 7-1 rout of Curacao.

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Police made the arrest after attending a quarterly Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting, where residents reported suspected drug activity on Old Road.

Officers later searched a man on Eden Street, located off Old Road, and arrested him on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Eden Street is usually a more quiet street, home to residential flats for pensioners and Astley Bridge Cemetery.

The man remains in police custody for questioning.

A spokesman for Bolton GMP said: “Yesterday evening, the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team held the quarterly Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting.

“The PACT meeting is an opportunity for the community to raise concerns about crime in their area with the police, local councillors and the council.

“One concern raised by the community was around people supplying drugs on the street in the Old Road area of Astley Bridge.

“After the meeting, officers from the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team searched a man on Eden Street (off Old Road) suspected to be involved in supplying drugs in the area.”

Manchester United plan to sign a third midfielder during the transfer window, as long as they can find a buyer for Manuel Ugarte.

United are working on a deal for a second midfielder at the moment, at which point the focus is expected to turn to other positions, with the need to sign a left-sided player high on the agenda.

But United are willing to listen to offers for Ugarte this summer and if strong enough interest emerges to sanction a deal for the Uruguayan, they will turn to the market again.

Leeds United look to take the next step in their progression in the summer transfer window with one Champions League star a key target for the Premier League side

Leeds United are firmly in the running to land Germany midfielder Julian Brandt who is set to become a free agent in just three days’ time. The 30-year-old will officially part ways with Borussia Dortmund on June 30 after seven years at the Bundesliga club.

Brandt is widely expected to be one of the standout players available on a free transfer this summer window – handing Leeds the opportunity to snap him up at no cost. The Premier League outfit have already looked into the possibility of a deal, and securing his signature could prove to be a remarkable piece of business for the club.

Landing a player of Brandt’s calibre and pedigree would undoubtedly represent a stunning coup for Leeds. The attacking midfielder rounds off a campaign in which he helped Dortmund finish second, contributing seven goals and four assists in 29 league appearances.

Although it wasn’t sufficient to earn him a place in Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad, the 43-cap international’s quality and versatility would significantly bolster Farke’s attacking options.

Predominantly a number 10, Brandt has featured in over 200 matches across both flanks – with the majority of those coming on the left – yet operated exclusively behind Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy throughout the past season. A creative midfielder has been high on Leeds’ wishlist, having already secured their long-pursued right-wing target Harry Wilson on Wednesday, according to The Athletic.

Wilson, 29, and the potential signing of Brandt, 30, would represent a shift in transfer approach for Leeds, who last season focused on bringing in players approaching their prime – rather than those who may have already reached it.

Nevertheless, landing a player with 82 Champions League appearances and two World Cup campaigns to his name would be a remarkable piece of business and one that could propel Leeds to the next level. That said, such an impressive list of achievements means Brandt will have no shortage of admirers.

The likes of Roma, Lazio and Galatasaray have already been credited with an interest in his signature, but the prospect of linking up with fellow German Farke and experiencing English football for the first time could prove decisive in the battle to secure Brandt.

The Whites manager has made no secret of his desire for another versatile number 10 alongside Brenden Aaronson since last year. Farke said last August: “There’s always room for more quality. Wingers who can work hard and are good against the ball, disciplined, wingers who are quick and good one vs one, wingers who can play like a 10. This (latter option) would be a good solution for us.”

The American now has 12 months remaining on his deal and Farke’s demands have grown more urgent as the new campaign draws closer. Leeds’ transfer activity last summer focused on strengthening the squad with 10 first-team additions, whereas this summer involves a smaller pool of targets that would likely prove more exciting to supporters.

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A league-high 92.8% of the club’s squad last season fell between the ages of 23 and 29, and while overlooking that for the acquisitions of Brandt and Wilson – with the latter turning 30 next March – it could prove a move that propels Leeds beyond 14th in the standings.

With Brandt poised to become a free agent and Farke requiring quality in his position, he could represent the ideal summer capture.

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