At Least 32 Dead, More Than 700 Injured After Twin Earthquakes Strike Venezuela

A powerful earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday, sending residents rushing out of buildings, rattling several states and triggering tremors that were felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia.

Authorities in both countries moved quickly to assess the impact of the seismic event, while emergency agencies ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.

In Caracas and other affected areas, residents described scenes of panic as buildings swayed and people evacuated homes, offices and commercial premises.

"I don't know how long it lasted," shopkeeper Heidi Romero told AFP after escaping from the upper floor of a building during the quake.

"We went out through the emergency stairs; that's how they got us out," said the 42-year-old.

Across the Venezuelan capital, dozens of people left buildings and gathered outdoors as a precaution before eventually returning to their homes and workplaces.

Among them was Carmen Guedez, a 69-year-old administrator who was caring for her bedridden sister when the earthquake struck.

"It kept getting stronger," Guedez told AFP.

"I started to see the windows begin to move and then everything shook."

She said she remained inside with her sister and a neighbour as the tremors intensified.

"We huddled together. We couldn't get out. The neighbours are still out on the street," she said.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the states of Trujillo, Carabobo, Miranda and La Guaira were among the areas most affected by the earthquake.

Tremors Reach Colombia

The quake's impact extended beyond Venezuela's borders, with tremors reported across parts of Colombia, including the capital, Bogotá.

Warning alarms were activated in some areas, prompting precautionary evacuations as residents sought safety outside buildings.

Freddy Tovar, coordinator of Colombia's National Seismological Network, said authorities received more than 200 reports from people who felt the earthquake.

"The conditions of this seismic event mean that some aftershocks may occur, which could also be widely felt across Colombian territory," Tovar said in a video posted on social media.

Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) later said there was no indication of a tsunami threat linked to the earthquake.

That assessment was echoed by the United States National Tsunami Warning Center, which stated that there was no danger of a tsunami following the seismic event.

Region Familiar With Earthquakes

Venezuela has experienced several significant earthquakes over the decades.

Among the deadliest in recent history was a powerful 1997 earthquake in the country's northeast that killed 73 people.

An even more devastating quake struck Caracas in 1967, leaving 236 people dead and causing widespread destruction.

Meanwhile, shortly after the seismic activity in Venezuela, Japan's weather agency reported a separate 7.2-magnitude earthquake in the country's north.

Japanese authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.

Emergency officials in Venezuela and Colombia continue to monitor the situation and assess any potential impact from aftershocks.

AFP