Back-to-back powerful earthquakes slam Venezuela, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas Two massive earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, triggering widespread panic and structural damage across the country. The first tremor, initially measured at 7.1 magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey, was later revised to 7.2, with its epicenter located west of the coastal town of Morón, approximately 168 kilometers from Caracas. Just minutes later, a second, even stronger quake with a magnitude of 7.5 rattled the region, its epicenter 16 kilometers southwest of Morón. Both quakes, with depths of 22 kilometers and 10 kilometers respectively, were among the most severe to hit Venezuela in over a century. The tremors caused buildings to collapse in Caracas, the capital, as residents fled their homes in fear. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with entire walls of structures falling and furniture visible from the streets. Dust clouds rose in two busy neighborhoods, and power and cellphone signals were lost in parts of the city. "We all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together," said Hector Ricci, a resident of Caracas, describing the sudden evacuation. The lack of communication further heightened anxiety, particularly for families displaced by Venezuela’s ongoing crisis, with over 7.7 million people having left the country. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez failed to address the nation within three hours of the earthquakes, despite the government’s lack of immediate reports on casualties or damage. This delay drew sharp criticism from opposition figures and Venezuelans. Edmundo González, the opposition’s 2024 presidential candidate, called the uncertainty "yet another layer of anguish," while Maria Corina Machado, an exiled opposition leader, urged solidarity amid the crisis.#venezuela #caracas #morn #delcy_rodrguez #edmundo_gonzlez
