A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Venezuela this afternoon, causing the collapse of buildings in several areas of Caracas and spreading panic among the population of the capital and other cities across the country.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake was located in the central-northern region of the country, in an area near Morón, in the state of Carabobo, about 21 kilometers east of that locality and at a depth of approximately 13 kilometers, classifying it as a high-impact shallow earthquake.
The most shocking images came from Los Palos Grandes in Caracas, where a building collapsed completely. A witness who was just 20 meters from the structure described the exact moment of the collapse: "Right now in Los Palos Grandes, I'm on my way to mass and the traffic light turns green and people are standing still, so I honk the horn, honk the horn, honk the horn and they pass by, and when I get here I am 20 meters from the building, it starts to shake and I stop the car and the building fell."
Journalist Federico A. Black B. confirmed on social media the collapse of buildings in both Los Palos Grandes and San Bernardino, another area of the capital.
The channel VPItv also reported that in Altamira, Caracas, several structures collapsed following the earthquake, and specified that, according to the Colombian Geological Service, the magnitude was 7.0. The outlet noted that, at that time, the official report of injuries and possible fatalities was still unknown.
The earthquake was strongly felt in Caracas, Maracay, Valencia, Barquisimeto, and Maracaibo, as well as in Colombian cities such as Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, and Cúcuta. Many residents took to the streets for safety, and power outages were reported along with interruptions in internet and phone signals.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and Curacao, with dangerous fluctuations in sea level expected starting at 7:19 PM this Wednesday.
The opposition leader María Corina Machado was one of the first public figures to react. In a message posted on her X account, she expressed her solidarity with the Venezuelan people: “My heart, my endless embrace, and my prayers are with every Venezuelan home during these hours of anguish. May strength, serenity, and solidarity prevail among us in this difficult time. May God protect every Venezuelan, our families, and our homes.”
Some sources classify this earthquake as the strongest recorded in Venezuela in the last 10 years. The most recent comparable event was the 7.3 magnitude earthquake on August 21, 2018, with its epicenter in the state of Sucre, which resulted in no fatalities. Venezuela sits on the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, an area of high seismic activity with active faults such as Boconó and Oca-Antioquia.
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