Powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela, collapsing buildings and causing panic

Back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing buildings to collapse and sending panicked residents into the streets. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities as far away as Brazil’s Amazon, approximately 1,700 kilometers away. Late Wednesday, acting president Delcy Rodríguez said she was preparing to address the nation. However, her government's failure to provide an immediate report on injuries or fatalities within three hours of the earthquake drew criticism from politicians and Venezuelans. "The uncertainty becomes yet another layer of anguish," Edmundo González, the opposition’s 2024 presidential candidate, said on X. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2, with its epicenter west of Morón. A minute later, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck, with its epicenter southwest of Morón. People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, with many visibly shocked by collapsed walls and debris blocking streets. Parts of the capital lost power and cellphone signal, deepening distress for families, especially those among the millions who have left the country. "It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together," Caracas resident Hector Ricci said. "May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time," opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said from exile on X.

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The uncertainty becomes yet another layer of anguish.