7.5-Magnitude Quake Strikes Venezuela After Powerful Foreshock, Rescue Efforts Underway

Agency-Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Venezuela within seconds of each other late Wednesday, causing significant damage in the capital Caracas, collapsing buildings, and triggering panic across the country.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake hit at 10:04 p.m. GMT with its epicenter located about 21 kilometers west of the coastal town of Morón. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake struck approximately 45 kilometers away, making it a rare seismic doublet event.

The tremors caused severe damage in Caracas, where residents rushed into the streets as buildings shook violently. Authorities reported several collapsed structures and damaged buildings, though the number of casualties had not been confirmed by early Thursday.

An AFP journalist witnessed the complete collapse of a 22-story building in Caracas’ Altamira district. Rescue teams and volunteers searched through the rubble while anxious relatives gathered nearby hoping for news of loved ones.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said authorities had ordered precautionary evacuations and suspended gas supplies to several buildings to prevent additional accidents. “We have some damaged structures and we don’t want any kind of accident involving gas to occur,” he said.

The earthquakes were also felt across neighboring Colombia, including the capital Bogotá, where alarms sounded and residents briefly evacuated buildings. Colombia’s National Seismological Network received more than 200 reports of tremors from across the country.

Despite initial concerns, both Colombian authorities and the US National Tsunami Warning Center later ruled out any tsunami threat following the earthquakes.

Emergency responders continue assessing the damage and searching for possible victims as aftershocks remain a concern across the region.