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Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hammered Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas.
The US Geological Survey said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 and its epicentre was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168km (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 13km (8 miles). Initial reports said the earthquake was a magnitude 7.1.
Minutes later, the USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake. The second quake had a depth of 10km and its epicentre was 16km (10 miles) south-west of Morón.
“High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” the USGS said.
People evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas and remained outside, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighbourhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.
The interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said the quake could be felt in several states, adding that the Altamira neighbourhood in Caracas had “alarming situations” with collapsed homes and buildings. He urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.
“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said on state television. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”
He also urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.
“The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong,” Caracas resident Roberto Damas said. “We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out.”
Key events
State of emergency declared, damaged Caracas airport closed
Tom Phillips
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, is speaking now and has just announced a state of emergency. “We ask the population to remain calm and united,” she said on state TV.
Rodríguez said the country’s main airport had been closed after suffering “severe damage” and announced that the metro and train systems had been halted. “We send our immediate condolences to those who have lost relatives,” Rodríguez added, although she did not say how many casualties or fatalities there had been.
Rodríguez urged citizens to evacuate damaged buildings.
Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, is speaking now. We’ll bring you the top lines.
Camille Rodríguez Montilla
Volunteers, medics and relatives of victims have raced to the Altamira area in Caracas hoping to help save survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings there.
“I live far away [but] ... I came here riding my motorbike as fast as I could,” said José Morillo, as he arrived outside a block of flats called Residencias Obelisco.
Morillo said several members of his family were inside the building at the time of the two earthquakes, shortly after 6pm local time. “My brother, my son and nephews are all inside. I have faith. I believe in God alot. I hope everyone is OK – but uncertainty is torture,” the 61-year-old added as rescue workers combed the wreckage.
At about 9pm a teenage girl was pulled from the debris and carried into an ambulance. “It’s my niece! It’s my niece!” Morillo could be heard shouting.
Camille Rodríguez Montilla
Guardian reporter Camille Rodríguez Montilla is outside one of the residential buildings that has collapsed in Altamira, an upmarket area of Caracas, watching rescue workers and volunteers search for survivors.
“It was horrible,” one volunteer, Olky Barrero, a 56-year-old teacher, told her as the search went on. “We hope to God that there are as few victims as possible. We’re praying.
“Where I was, it felt like the walls were going to fall on top of us, they were shaking back and forth, this way and that,” she recalled.
At least two people were carried out of the building on Wednesday evening as night fell although it was unclear if the second was still alive.
Venezuela suffered 'doublet' earthquake event, USGS says
To recap some details about the two earthquakes:
The first magnitude 7.2 quake, with an epicenter 21 kms (13 miles) west of the coastal town of Moron, occurred at 2204 GMT, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. Within a minute, a 7.5-magnitude quake struck about 45km away.
“This earthquake was the second event in a doublet. This magnitude 7.5 mainshock was preceded by 39 seconds by a 7.2 foreshock,” USGS said.
At Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas, staff have been asked to double up on the night shift to help treat the injured, a worker has said. Video filmed at the hospital showed a darkened hallway with ceiling panels hanging by cables and pieces of plaster scattered across the floor, Reuters reported.
Delcy Rodríguez to address nation
Tom Phillips
Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, just announced she will soon appear on television to address citizens following today’s natural disaster. Earlier, the interior minsiter, Diosdado Cabello, urged Venezuelans to stay calm and refrain from entering damaged buildings given the risk of aftershocks.
International airport in Caracas damaged: report
Tom Phillips
One of the worst hit areas appears to have been La Guaira, a port city just north of Caracas on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast.
La Guaira is home to Venezuela’s main international airport, the Simón Bolívar International Airport, and is also close to some of the hillside communities that came under attack by US forces, when Donald Trump ordered the 3 January attack on Venezuela this year to abduct its president Nicolás Maduro.
One large beachfront hotel in La Guaira, Eduard’s Hotel Boutique, appears to have suffered major damage with some videos showing parts of the building had been levelled by the quake.
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The airport has also been badly damaged, with footage showing travellers scattering for cover inside the terminal building as its roof started to come crashing down.
Here are some images coming in from Caracas, Venezuela.
The mayor of the Chacao district says the earthquakes have caused fatalities but he did not give a figure. Chacao is one of five political and administrative subdivisions of Caracas. We’ll bring you updates as soon as we know more.
Many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes struck because it was a public holiday. Some have spoken about what happened when the earthquakes hit.
“As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming,” said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old from Caracas. “Everyone was running down the stairs.”
Residents across the capital city evacuated as buildings shook.
“There was a very loud crash. Things fell in the house, jugs inside the refrigerator. I’ve never experienced anything like it,” said Coro Martinez, 56, from eastern Caracas.
Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner in southern Caracas, said police helped her get out of her home. “This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,” she said. Caracas was hit by a deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 1967.
Another resident said she received an earthquake alert on her phone just before the shaking intensified.
“It was a normal afternoon, and suddenly my phone sounded an earthquake alert,” she said. “As I picked it up and started listening to what it was saying, I first felt light shaking. Then, in less than two seconds, everything started moving.”
Welcome
Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hammered Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas.
The US Geological Survey said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 and its epicentre was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168km (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 13km (8 miles). Initial reports said the earthquake was a magnitude 7.1.
Minutes later, the USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake. The second quake had a depth of 10km and its epicentre was 16km (10 miles) south-west of Morón.
“High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” the USGS said.
People evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas and remained outside, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighbourhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.
The interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said the quake could be felt in several states, adding that the Altamira neighbourhood in Caracas had “alarming situations” with collapsed homes and buildings. He urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.
“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said on state television. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”
He also urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.
“The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong,” Caracas resident Roberto Damas said. “We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out.”
