Strong Earthquake Strikes Northern Venezuela
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale rocked northern Venezuela late Thursday, Danish time. Not long after, a subsequent quake, even stronger at 7.5, reverberated through the same region, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Local time had just swung into Wednesday afternoon when the tremors began, with the epicenter located approximately 40 kilometers west of the bustling city of Valencia, close to the Caribbean Sea.
The seismic activity was felt as far away as Caracas, about 100 kilometers to the east of Montalban, with news agencies Reuters and AFP confirming widespread reports of rattled residents.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello remarked on state television about the devastating impact, stating, “Some buildings have collapsed, and homes have been severely affected.” The USGS has warned of the potential for significant casualties and extensive damage throughout the country.
As night fell on Thursday, authorities had yet to provide information regarding possible fatalities or injuries.
The earthquake struck during a holiday commemorating the Battle of Carabobo, a pivotal victory in Venezuela’s 1821 war of independence against Spain, leading many citizens to be at home when the disaster occurred.
In Caracas, numerous residents fled buildings in search of safety in the streets. Eighty-year-old Maria Romero, a retired resident of southern Caracas, described the ordeal to Reuters, stating, “This earthquake was terrible—worse than the one in 1967.” She added that police assisted her in reaching safety.
Footage circulating on social media captured emergency vehicles responding throughout Caracas, while numerous buildings bore signs of significant façade damage.
Outages in electricity and internet services were reported by several residents of the capital. One eyewitness in Valencia noted, “Several walls in my building have cracks or fissures,” emphasizing the urgency with which she and her husband evacuated once the tremors subsided.
The tremors extended beyond Venezuela, with reports indicating that they were felt in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá. Following the earthquake, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) quickly issued a tsunami warning for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, though this alert has since been lifted.
As the nation assesses the aftermath, the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
