Buildings collapse as quakes rock Venezuela, ‘high casualties’ likely

Powerful earthquakes hit west of Venezuela’s capital on Wednesday afternoon, destroying buildings in Caracas and causing scientists to predict “high casualties and major damage” in the South American country.

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas, with a magnitude 7.5 tremor occurring less than a minute later, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The initial death toll estimate was likely between 10,000 and 100,000, the USGS said, adding, “High casualties and extensive damage are likely and disaster is likely widespread.” he said.

Authorities did not immediately provide an estimate of death or injury. “Some buildings in Caracas were destroyed, houses collapsed,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television.

Video footage shows emergency workers climbing over the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital as night begins to fall.

When the earthquakes struck, many Venezuelans were at home celebrating a public holiday commemorating the 1821 military victory that secured Venezuelan independence from Spain.

“As soon as it started, we started hearing people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old journalist who lives in western Caracas. “Everyone was running down the stairs.”

Venezuela is located in a seismically active tectonic zone where the Caribbean Plate is colliding with the South American Plate.

Residents of the capital, which was shaken by the deadly earthquake of 6.3 magnitude in 1967, rushed to evacuate after the earthquake shook the buildings.

Coro Martinez, 56, who lives in eastern Caracas, said: “It was a very violent collision. Things fell into the house, jugs fell into the refrigerator. I have never experienced anything like this.”

Maria Romero, an 80-year-old retiree who lives on the south side of Caracas, said police helped her get out. “This earthquake was terrible, even worse than the earthquake in 1967,” he added.

Fire trucks were seen on the streets of the capital and serious damage was seen on the facades of some buildings.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat for Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands following the quake, adding that the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire off the coast of Venezuela could also be affected by dangerous waves. He withdrew the warning within about an hour.