Trending 
Two powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck the same region of Venezuela on Wednesday, triggering widespread panic, structural damage, and emergency evacuations, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and eyewitness reports from AFP journalists.
The seismic events hit within seconds of each other, with the first quake recorded at magnitude 7.2 and the second, stronger tremor at 7.5. USGS described the activity as a “doublet,” noting that the main shock was preceded by a foreshock just 39 seconds earlier. The epicentre was located near the coastal town of Morón, west of Caracas.
In the capital, Caracas, residents rushed into the streets as buildings swayed and collapsed. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed injuries and structural failures but said casualty figures remained unclear.
“We have some damaged structures and we don’t want any kind of accident involving gas to occur,” Cabello said, noting that gas supplies had been cut to several buildings as a precaution.
At a shopping centre, shopkeeper Heidi Romero recalled being trapped on the top floor during the quake. “It was unbelievable, I don’t even know how long it lasted,” she said. “We went out through the emergency stairs; that’s how they got us out.”
An AFP journalist reported a 22-storey building completely destroyed in the Altamira district, where residents cried out for relatives trapped beneath rubble while volunteers searched with limited equipment. “We need flashlights,” rescuers were heard shouting.
Hardest-hit areas included Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda, and La Guaira. The tremors were also felt in neighbouring Colombia, including Bogotá, where more than 200 reports of shaking were recorded.
Authorities ruled out tsunami risk, while aftershocks remain possible across the region.
Venezuela has a long seismic history, including deadly quakes in 1967 and 1997.
