Two Major Quakes Hit Venezuela, Raising Fears of Massive Casualties

Venezuela was struck late Wednesday by two strong earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5, followed by 20 aftershocks, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency said the death toll could range from 10,000 to 100,000, though Venezuelan authorities had issued no official casualty or injury figures.

The quakes caused buildings to collapse in Caracas and were felt in neighboring Colombia. USGS data showed the two main shocks happened one minute apart, at two epicenters about 45 kilometers apart and at different depths. Residents in Caracas rushed out of buildings as they feared more shaking, and witnesses reported seeing cracks appear in structures.

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, declared a state of emergency. In a televised address Wednesday night, she said the twin quakes and aftershocks had brought down many buildings in Caracas and forced the closure of Maiquetia International Airport, which serves the capital, because of severe infrastructure damage.

The US tsunami warning system also issued an alert for possible tsunami waves in Puerto Rico and nearby islands after the earthquake, warning that islands off Venezuela could face dangerous waves. Separately, Japan’s meteorological agency said a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit northern Japan, but there was no tsunami warning.