"I thought the building would fall on me": First testimonies after strong magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Venezuela

A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake jolted Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, with residents in Caracas reporting intense shaking and significant fear. Nicole Kolster, a journalist in the Palos Grandes sector of the capital, described the tremor as the strongest she has ever felt in her 37 years.

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It's the strongest tremor I've felt in my life.

"I thought the building was going to fall on me," Kolster told BBC Mundo, recounting how she sought refuge between a doorway and a stone wall as windows rattled violently. She remained in place until neighbors urged everyone to evacuate to the street. From the street, the sounds of people trapped in a collapsed building could be heard crying for help.

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I thought the building was going to fall on me.

Images emerging from Caracas depict damaged buildings, with some appearing to have partially or fully collapsed. Residents gathered in the streets, some in tears, others embracing, as they processed the event and waited for potential aftershocks. The recommendation for many was not to return to their buildings.

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Ask for help. We are here.

"Our apartment has some cracked walls. There are fallen poles, we have no electricity, no signal," said Maria Elise, another resident of a central Caracas area, highlighting the immediate aftermath and disruption caused by the quake. The fear of aftershocks kept many outdoors for an extended period, with some attempting to retrieve vehicles from building basements.

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Our apartment has some cracked walls. There are fallen poles, we have no electricity, no signal.