A state of emergency has already been declared after two major earthquakes hit the country on the day the national holiday and independence from Spain were celebrated
The north coast of Venezuela was hit by two strong earthquakes a minute apart late this Wednesday afternoon, causing buildings to collapse and forcing residents to flee to the streets.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that successive tremors could cause thousands of casualties and widespread damage, although the extent of the impact remains unclear as emergency teams and security forces mobilize across the country.
This comes at a critical time for Venezuela, which is still facing a deep political and financial crisis – managed by an interim government after the deposition of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces earlier this year, and with an economy weakened by years of hyperinflation.
Here’s what we know so far.
What happened?
A precursor tremor of magnitude 7.2 occurred near San Felipe, capital of the state of Yaracuy, shortly after 6 pm local time (11 pm in mainland Portugal).
Just 40 seconds later, a larger earthquake, measuring 7.5, struck Venezuela about 23 kilometers southeast of Yumare – a city also in the state of Yaracuy, home to some of the country’s largest oil refineries.
Wednesday was a national holiday, commemorating Saint John the Baptist and also Venezuela’s independence from Spain – meaning many people were probably at home or participating in public events.
The earthquake was strong enough to be felt in several states across the country, as well as in neighboring Colombia, hundreds of kilometers away.
In the capital Caracas, about 300 kilometers from the epicenter of the earthquake, at least three buildings partially collapsed in the upscale neighborhoods of the eastern zone, near Plaza Altamira.
Several videos geolocated by CNN show extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure across Venezuela, including in Caracas and the coastal city of Catia La Mar, where several collapsed buildings can be seen on a hillside.
Terrified residents were seen leaving buildings with their loved ones and pets before gathering in the streets.
There is no ongoing tsunami threat, according to the US Tsunami Warning Centers, which canceled the previous warning for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and coastal areas within 300 kilometers of the epicenter.
What is the damage to date?
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office after Maduro’s arrest, confirmed that there were deaths and expressed condolences to the victims’ families in a statement to the nation on Wednesday night, but did not provide the number of fatalities.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued two separate red alerts through its PAGER system for the consecutive earthquakes, indicating the severity of the disaster. Historically, the USGS has only issued these alerts once or twice a year.
“Red Alert for tremor-related deaths and economic losses. Large casualties and extensive damage are likely, and the disaster is likely widespread. Previous Red Alerts have required a national or international response,” the USGS alert read.
Most people in the region live in structures vulnerable to tremors, the agency added.
What is the answer?
Venezuela declared a state of emergency and created a high-level task force to oversee search and rescue operations, Rodríguez said in his statement to the country.
Simón Bolívar Airport, near Caracas, was temporarily closed after suffering damage, he added. Classes will be suspended across the country for a week, and train services and non-essential activities have also been temporarily cancelled.
Security forces were mobilized throughout Venezuela due to the risk of collapse of “many structures”, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information.
The government also authorized the cutting of direct gas supplies to certain buildings “as a preventive measure” while authorities assess damaged structures, the ministry said.
Rodriguez said several states were affected, with some areas reporting power outages. Internet connectivity fell sharply across Venezuela after earthquakes damaged energy and telecommunications infrastructure, according to monitoring organization NetBlocks.
Messages of solidarity and condolences were sent by governments across Latin America throughout Wednesday night, including Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, Bolivia and others.
CNN’s Stefano Pozzebon, Avery Schmitz, Thomas Bordeaux, Ivonne Valdes and Camille Rodriguez contributed to this report
