Two Powerful Earthquakes Strike Venezuela's Northern Coast

Caracas. Two powerful earthquakes struck the northern coastal region of South American country Venezuela within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, causing many buildings to collapse and forcing panicked citizens to flee to the streets to save their lives. 

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that these consecutive earthquakes could cause thousands of casualties and extensive damage. However, the full details of the damage are yet to come. Immediately after the earthquake, the government declared a state of emergency across the country and mobilized rescue workers and security forces.

This disaster has come at a very difficult time for Venezuela. An interim government is currently active there after the US forces arrested President Nicolas Maduro. This is another major blow to a country that has been facing extreme economic and political crisis for a long time. 

According to disaster management officials, the first 7.2 magnitude tremor struck near San Felipe, the capital of Yaracuy state, at 6:04 PM local time. Exactly 40 seconds later, another powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck with its epicenter 23 kilometers southeast of the city of Yumaré in the same state. The Yumaré region is also an area where Venezuela's major oil refineries are located.

Wednesday was a public holiday in Venezuela, celebrating Saint John the Baptist and Spain's independence, so most people were busy at home or at public events. The earthquake's tremors were felt in various states of the country as well as in neighboring Colombia, hundreds of kilometers away. 

At least three buildings were partially damaged near Altamira Square, an affluent neighborhood in the capital Caracas, about 300 kilometers from the epicenter. Videos posted on social media show houses collapsed and extensive damage to infrastructure in Caracas and the mountainous area of the coastal city Catia La Mar. A local who fled his home said, 'The scene was as horrific as any horror movie.'

Although a tsunami warning was initially issued for areas including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the US Tsunami Warning Center later clarified that there was no tsunami threat. Delsy Rodríguez, who took over as acting president after Maduro's arrest, confirmed in an address to the nation that people had died in the earthquake. She expressed condolences to the families of the deceased but did not disclose the number of casualties. 

The USGS issued a 'Red Alert' for this earthquake through its pager system, which is issued only once or twice a year in history. According to the USGS, most buildings in this region are not capable of withstanding earthquake tremors, so there is a possibility of significant human and economic losses.

The government has formed a high-level task force for disaster management. Flights have been temporarily suspended after damage to Simón Bolívar Airport near the capital. Schools across the country have been closed for a week, and train services and non-essential activities have been halted. Security forces have been deployed considering the risk of further structural collapse, and gas supply to some buildings has been cut off to prevent potential fires.

Internet services have been disrupted in many areas due to damage to electricity and telecommunication infrastructure caused by the earthquake. Meanwhile, Latin American countries including Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, and El Salvador have expressed solidarity and sympathy towards Venezuela.