Two major earthquakes struck in central Venezuela on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey. Residents said that the temblors felt especially strong, shaking buildings and knocking out electricity in parts of the country, including the capital, Caracas.
It was not immediately clear if there were any deaths. Images posted on social media showed buildings with extensive damages from the earthquakes and smoke and dust billowing from those sites. People in Caracas were seen congregating in the streets to survey the damage, which included collapsed structures.
The first 7.2-magnitude earthquake was followed less than a minute later by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, according to U.S. monitoring agencies. The epicenter was near San Felipe, a city of about 220,000 in the state of Yaracuy, west of Caracas. The temblors happened shortly after 6 p.m. local time.
As seismologists review available data, they may revise the reported magnitudes of the earthquakes.
People in this region reside largely in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist, according to the U.S.G.S. The main vulnerable buildings are made of unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block construction, the service added.
Videos on social media showed passengers running for safety inside the international airport in Maiquetía, near Caracas. Other images showed rescue teams combing through collapsed structures in Caracas searching for survivors.
Although the quakes struck on land, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center briefly issued tsunami warnings along the coasts of Venezuela, Bonaire and Curaçao and Aruba.
Venezuela’s government said on state television that a “strong earthquake” was felt in Caracas and several parts of the country, but that the extent of the damages was not immediately clear.
Venezuelan authorities did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. Officials at the United States Embassy in Caracas also did not immediately respond.
Reporting was contributed by Amy Graff, Isayen Herrera and Tibisay Romero.
