Powerful Quake Hits Venezuela, Damages Buildings in Caracas

A strong earthquake struck off Venezuela’s northern coast late Thursday, causing buildings to collapse in Caracas and damaging other areas, according to the US Geological Survey. The initial magnitude was reported at 7.5, later revised in the source to 7.2.

USGS said the quake was centered about 23 kilometers northwest of Yumaré. It followed a foreshock of magnitude 7.2 only about 40 seconds earlier.

Soon after the main tremor, authorities issued a tsunami warning for dangerous waves along coasts within 300 kilometers of the epicenter. That warning was later canceled for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Social media footage showed a collapsed building in Caracas, along with damaged structures, fallen walls and neighborhoods covered in dust. The epicentral area is near some of Venezuela’s largest refineries. As of the report, no casualty figures had been released and there was no word on damage to energy facilities.