CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – A series of powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela Wednesday evening, toppling buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.
Magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes rocked the region, with buildings evacuated in cities as far away as Brazil’s Amazon some 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) away.
Late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said she was preparing to address the nation.
Rodríguez’s failure to address the nation within three hours of the earthquake, while her government did not provide an injury or casualty report at the time, was criticized by politicians and Venezuelans.
“Uncertainty becomes another layer of anxiety,” Edmundo González, the opposition’s 2024 presidential candidate, told X.
The US Geological Survey initially said the first quake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revised it to 7.2, and that its epicenter was west of the Morón community, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas. The earthquake had a depth of 22 kilometers.
The USGS reported an even larger 7.5 earthquake just a minute later. The second earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometers and its epicenter was 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Moroni.
The quakes, among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 p.m. People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shaken after seeing entire walls collapse, leaving furniture visible from the street. Columns of dust could also be seen in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are usually busy.
“We all had to leave our homes”
People remained on the streets for hours, even after sunset. Some sat on the ground hugging their pets as dust gathered around them. Collapsed buildings, downed power poles and debris blocked roads. Parts of the capital lost power and cell phone signal.
“It started gently and then it gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our homes, go outside and come together,” said Caracas resident Hector Ricci.
The lack of cellphone signal in parts of Venezuela deepened the anxiety of many families, especially those among the more than 7.7 million people who have fled the country during its protracted crisis.
“May strength, calm and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult time,” said opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from exile in X.
The impact was felt throughout Venezuela
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the earthquake could be felt in several states. The Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had “alarming situations” with collapsed houses and buildings, he said, suggesting people were injured by the quake, and asked drivers to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said on state television. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one is hurt.”
He also urged people to stay outside as the tremors could further damage some structures.
“The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was overwhelming,” said Caracas resident Roberto Gamas. “We were walking and it was spinning. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out.”
Expressions of support posted on social networks
Reaction has come quickly on social networks.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, in exile after fleeing Venezuela in December, went to X to send prayers and wish strength to Venezuelans.
“May strength, calm and solidarity prevail between us in the face of this difficult time”, she wrote in X.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele expressed solidarity with Venezuela after the earthquakes, saying his country’s “heart is with the people of Venezuela during these difficult times.”
“We send you all our solidarity and prayers. Stay strong, Venezuela,” Bukele wrote.
Republican María Elvira Salazar of Florida said her “thoughts and prayers” were with Venezuela and expressed support for the affected families, those still waiting for answers and first responders.
“The strength of the Venezuelan people has been tested time and time again,” she wrote. “I have no doubt that they will face this moment with the same resilience, courage and hope that they have seen through every challenge.”
The earthquake affected the region
Buildings in Manaus, Belem and Macapá in Brazil’s Amazon were evacuated, TV Globo reports.
The earthquakes were also felt in the Caribbean and northeastern regions of Colombia, but there were no reports of damage or injuries. The Colombian Maritime Authority said in a statement that the country’s Caribbean coast is not at risk of a tsunami.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the Virgin Islands. Authorities in the Dominican Republic also issued one for the island. Another alert for Puerto Rico was quickly lifted.
Strong earthquakes are uncommon in Venezuela.
While the country is located near numerous fault lines, its position on the South American and Caribbean plates makes earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. Along the Pacific coast—in Mexico and Chile, for example—earthquakes are frequent. Both countries lie along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” which is responsible for 90% of earthquakes, according to the USGS.
The earthquakes were also felt in the Caribbean and northeastern regions of Colombia, but there were no reports of damage or injuries. The Colombian Maritime Authority said in a statement that the country’s Caribbean coast is not at risk from a tsunami.
In the Brazilian Amazon, buildings in the cities of Manaus, Belem and Macapá were also evacuated.
By REGINA GARCIA CANO and JUAN PABLO ARRAEZ Associated Press
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