Two powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon, hitting a region west of the capital, Caracas. The tremors occurred in quick succession, with reports indicating a magnitude 7.1 earthquake near Morón followed less than a minute later by a stronger 7.5 magnitude tremor. These quakes are among the strongest to strike the country in more than a century.
The earthquakes caused widespread destruction, bringing several large buildings crashing down in Caracas. Major damage was reported at Maiquetía international airport, where videos showed scenes of panic as passengers raced through corridors seeking cover from falling debris. Because Wednesday was a public holiday, many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes struck, prompting residents to flee their buildings and run into the streets.
The U.S. Geological Survey stated that high casualties and extensive damage are probable in the capital and surrounding regions. The impact extended beyond Venezuela, with residents in neighboring Colombia also reporting tremors. Additionally, the earthquakes prompted tsunami warnings for parts of the Caribbean.
These disasters occur as Venezuela’s government works with the U.S. to stabilize an economy that has been hard hit by years of mismanagement.