Magnitude 7.1 and 7.5 Earthquakes Strike Venezuela, Collapsing Buildings in Caracas

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon west of Caracas, followed shortly afterward by a magnitude 7.5 quake. The first registered at a depth of 13 km with its epicenter about an hour west of Valencia, the US Geological Survey reported. The second had a depth of 10 km and an epicenter 16 km southwest of Morón.

Homes and buildings collapsed in Caracas. Residents rushed to evacuate as the shaking intensified. Many Venezuelans were at home marking a public holiday that commemorates the 1821 military victory securing independence from Spain.

Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner on the south side of Caracas, said police assisted her evacuation from her building. “This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said. Witnesses reported cracks forming along apartment walls, shattered entryway glass, and significant facade damage to some structures.

Fire trucks appeared on Caracas streets after the quakes. Many residents lost power and internet service immediately. A witness in Valencia said several walls in their building broke open or developed cracks and that they evacuated once the shaking stopped.

He urged residents to remain outside because of possible aftershocks and asked motorists to clear paths for ambulances and emergency vehicles. “We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said on state television.

The US Tsunami Warning System issued and later cancelled a tsunami threat for Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands. Tremors were also reported in neighboring Colombia. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Japan on Thursday off the coast of Iwate at a depth of 50 km, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.