Two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck the same area of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing buildings to collapse and sending residents fleeing into the streets, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and AFP journalists.
Quakes Hit Near Coastal Town of Moron
The first quake, with an epicenter 21 km west of the coastal town of Moron, occurred at 2204 GMT, USGS reported. Within a minute, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck about 45 km away. USGS described the sequence as a doublet: “This magnitude-7.5 mainshock was preceded by 39 seconds by a 7.2 foreshock.” Both tremors had a depth of 10 km.
The earthquakes drove residents of the capital, Caracas, into the streets. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed that some buildings collapsed and roofs crumbled. “The stairs came away, the whole wall cracked. Things fell from the ceiling. It was horrible,” said 54-year-old bank employee Odalis Escalona in Caracas.
Authorities Urge Caution as Gas Supplies Cut
Cabello asked people to leave their homes and announced that gas supplies had been cut to several buildings as a precaution. “We have some damaged structures and we don’t want any kind of accident involving gas to occur,” Cabello said. It remains unknown whether the incident caused fatalities.
At a shopping center in Caracas, the second tremor prompted screams of panic, an AFP journalist observed. “It was unbelievable, I don’t even know how long it lasted,” said shopkeeper Heidi Romero, who was on the top floor when the quake struck. “We went out through the emergency stairs, that’s how they got us out,” the 42-year-old told AFP. Dozens more in the capital exited buildings and waited outside before returning to their offices and homes.
