Two earthquakesof magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, reached Venezuela this Wednesday (24), according to the seismological service of the United States (USGS), causing panic and destruction in Caracas. At least 32 people died and another 700 were injured after the collapse of buildings in the capital Caracas and surrounding areas, said interim president Delcy Rodriguez.
The main tremor (7.5) occurred 39 seconds after the precursor (7.2), at a distance of around 45 km, both in the north of the country. Several aftershocks followed from the first earthquake, which was recorded at 6:04 pm local time (7:04 pm in Brasília), according to information from the USGS. The earthquakes occurred at different depths and were also felt in Colombia and Brazil.
The 7.5 magnitude earthquake is the most powerful in more than a century, according to historical records from the USGS, which recorded on October 29, 1900 an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.7 off the country’s coast, northeast of Caracas.
The interim Venezuelan leader, Delcy Rodríguezmade a statement in which he declared a state of emergency and expressed his condolences to the families of the dead. Delcy also stated that Simón Bolívar International Airport, the country’s main airport, is closed due to “serious damage to its infrastructure.”
Rodriguez said the initial numbers do not include victims in the state of La Guaira, close to Caracas and where the city’s airport is located, which is the most affected region.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed and we are carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” she said in an appearance on state television just before 1 a.m. local time.
“I also want to say that this is a true tragedy. From here, we send our message of solidarity and, to the families who have lost loved ones, we reaffirm our condolences and our support in these difficult times.”
The country is focused on rescue efforts, including the arrival in the coming hours of teams from other countries, she said, as she thanked leaders including US President Donald Trump.
According to the leader, at least 20 secondary fears were registered after the two biggest earthquakes. “This is an event with serious consequences. There are states that were particularly affected,” he said.
“There was a very loud bang. Things fell into the house, jars into the refrigerator. I had never experienced anything like that,” said Coro Martinez, 56, who lives in east Caracas.
Residents across Caracas, which was also hit by a deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 1967, rushed to leave shaking buildings.
“As soon as it started, we heard people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicist from the west side of the capital. “Everyone ran down the stairs.”
Maria Romero, an 80-year-old retiree from the south of Caracas, said police officers helped her leave her home. “This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967.”
The American service USGS said it was “likely to have a large number of casualties and extensive damage in Venezuela.” On an alert scale used by the agency, an estimated 40% chance of there being between 10,000 and 100,000 deaths as a result of earthquakes in this category. There is also a 36% chance that the number is between 1,000 and 10,000; 14% above 100 thousand; and 10% between 100 and 1,000.
The estimates do not take into account the specific scenario of this Wednesday’s tremors, but a projection that compares these seismic records with parameters pre-established by the agency. The numbers may be revised as new information is released.
The Venezuelan Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, stated that the police and fire department were called. “We have buildings and houses that have collapsed, and we are dealing with the situation using all available security and civil assistance resources,” he said.
“Scenes of panic were seen in a shopping center in Caracas,” reported an AFP journalist. Dozens of people left buildings in the Venezuelan capital and waited in the street before returning to their offices and homes, witnesses reported.
A Venezuelan woman reported to Reuters the appearance of cracks in the wall of her apartment and the breaking of glass at the entrance to the building.
According to Reuters witness videos, fire trucks drove through the streets of Caracas after the tremors, and the facades of some buildings suffered significant damage. Many residents were left without electricity or internet access shortly after the earthquake.
In Colombia, the risk management unit (UNGRD) dismissed a tsunami warning. The USGS, in turn, issued alerts and, minutes later, canceled them. The statement warned of possible dangerous waves in the region of Puerto Rico and the American and British Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean Sea.
When the tremors began, many Venezuelans were at home on a holiday celebrating an 1821 military victory that helped secure the country’s independence from Spain. “As soon as it started, we started hearing people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicist who lives in the west of Caracas. “Everyone was running up the stairs.”
Residents across the capital — which was also hit by a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 1967 — rushed to evacuate as buildings shook. “There was a very loud bang. Things fell inside the house, jars inside the refrigerator. I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said Coro Martinez, 56, a resident of the city’s east side.
Maria Romero, an 80-year-old retiree who lives in the south of Caracas, said the police helped her leave her home. “This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said.
In Brazil, residents of the North region reported feeling an earthquake resulting from the earthquake in the neighboring country. The effect was felt at least in Amazon, To, Roraima and Amapá. In Macapá and Belém, buildings were evacuated. There is no information about injuries or destroyed structures in Brazil.
The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “sorrow for the losses caused as a result of the earthquakes” and stated that, until tonight, “no Brazilians were identified among the victims”.
