Two powerful earthquakes strike western Venezuela
The USGS said magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes hit west of Caracas, warning that high casualties and widespread damage were probable.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Two powerful earthquakes struck western Venezuela on Wednesday, and the United States Geological Survey warned that severe damage and high casualties were probable. Images from Caracas distributed by major news agencies showed collapsed buildings, crushed vehicles and emergency workers at a damaged site.
According to the USGS, the first quake had a magnitude of 7.2 and struck near San Felipe at 22:04 GMT. The agency placed the epicentre about 284km, or 176 miles, west of Caracas.
The USGS said a second, stronger quake followed almost immediately near Yumare, about 293km, or 182 miles, west of the capital. The agency measured that tremor at magnitude 7.5.
“High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” the USGS said in its assessment.
Damage reported in Caracas
Photographs from The Associated Press, Reuters and AFP showed damage in Caracas after the quakes. One AP image showed a man on top of a collapsed building, while another showed a car smashed by falling debris.
Reuters photographed emergency services working at the site of a collapsed building in the Venezuelan capital. AFP published an image identifying the damaged structure as a Bancaribe building, and said panic was reported in Caracas by its journalists.
AFP also reported that the tremor was felt in Colombia. The available agency photographs did not include official casualty figures.
President says she will address the country
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said she would speak to the country about the situation after what she called a strong earthquake affecting Venezuela. In a translated message, Rodríguez said she would address Venezuelans shortly to report on conditions after the quake.
The quakes struck late Wednesday in an area west of the capital but caused visible damage in Caracas, according to the images and reports from news agencies. The USGS assessment pointed to the possibility of a broad disaster zone, though early reports focused on the capital and the two epicentral areas named by the agency.
Further details on the extent of destruction, emergency response and casualties were not immediately available in the reports cited. Rodríguez’s planned address was expected to provide the next official update on the government’s view of the situation.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.