Powerful Earthquakes Strike Venezuela, Causing Building Collapses

Venezuela was shaken by two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday afternoon, leading to the collapse of numerous buildings and homes in the capital, Caracas, and other cities. The tremors, occurring just a minute apart, registered magnitudes of 7.1 and 7.5, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The epicenters were located west of Morón, a coastal town approximately 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas. The first earthquake had a depth of 13 kilometers (8 miles), followed by a second with a 10-kilometer depth. The USGS has indicated a high probability of significant casualties, although official injury reports have not yet been released.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello described the situation as "alarming," confirming that structures had crumbled in Caracas, particularly in the Altamira neighborhood. He urged the public to remain in open areas due to the risk of further damage from aftershocks. The earthquakes are considered among the most powerful to strike Venezuela in over 100 years, with the last comparable event being the 1900 San Narciso earthquake (magnitude 7.6).

Scenes of panic unfolded in Caracas, with residents evacuating buildings and gathering in the streets. Shopping centers experienced shaking, causing shelves to fall and prompting mass evacuations. Some areas lost electrical power. The tremors were also felt in neighboring Colombia. A tsunami alert for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands was briefly issued but later canceled.