Twin powerful earthquakes rock Venezuela, causing widespread damage

CARACAS — Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within minutes of each other on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage, trapping residents under collapsed buildings, disrupting infrastructure, and prompting the government to declare a state of emergency.The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.2 and struck west of the coastal town of Morón at a depth of 22 kilometers. About a minute later, a stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit 16 kilometers southwest of Morón at a depth of 10 kilometers.The back-to-back quakes, among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, were felt across much of the country and as far away as Brazil’s Amazon region, about 1,700 kilometers from Caracas.Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the earthquakes caused significant damage in several states but did not immediately provide figures on casualties or the number of damaged buildings. She announced the closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport because of structural damage, suspended classes for several days, and urged healthcare workers nationwide to report to hospitals to assist the injured.”We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez said, while calling for national unity during the emergency.Authorities said schools in affected areas would be converted into temporary shelters and donation centers.In the coastal state of Falcón, Governor Víctor Clark said at least 32 people had been hospitalized and 15 others remained trapped beneath collapsed structures several hours after the quakes struck.The earthquakes caused buildings to sway violently in Caracas, sending thousands of residents fleeing into the streets. Entire walls collapsed from some buildings, while debris, fallen utility poles, and damaged infrastructure blocked roads. Parts of the capital also experienced power outages and disruptions to mobile phone service.Rodríguez said subway services and natural gas supplies in Caracas had been suspended as emergency crews assessed damage. Authorities urged residents to remain outdoors because of the risk of aftershocks.The tremors were also felt in neighboring Colombia and northern Brazil, where buildings were evacuated, although no major damage was immediately reported outside Venezuela. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center briefly issued tsunami alerts following the earthquakes before later canceling them.Messages of support quickly poured in from several countries. The United States said it was coordinating assistance with Venezuelan authorities, while Chile, Ecuador, and El Salvador also offered humanitarian aid.Venezuela sits near the boundary between the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates, although earthquakes of this magnitude are rare in the country compared with other parts of Latin America.