Caracas: Back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities and areas spread as far as Brazil’s Amazon about 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) away.
In a brief address to the nation late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the earthquakes caused damages in several states, but she did not give any figures of homes and buildings damaged, injures or fatalities.
The earthquakes damaged the country’s main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, severely enough to lead to its closure, she said, adding that classes are being cancelled for several days.
“We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez said. “We urge unity.”
Rodríguez also asked all health care professionals in the country to report to hospitals to assist anyone who was injured.
In the state of Falcon, Gov Victor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalised and more than four hours after the earthquake there were still 15 people trapped.
The US Geological Survey initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2, and its epicentre was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometres (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometres.
The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers and its epicentre was 16 kilometres (10 miles) southwest of Morón.
The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 pm People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street.
Dust columns could also be seen in two neighbourhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.
