Powerful earthquakes rattled central Venezuela on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey, which warned that a widespread disaster with many casualties and extensive damage was likely.
Residents described the shaking as especially strong, causing buildings to sway and power outages across several areas, including the capital, Caracas. Social‑media posts captured images of structures reduced to ruins, though it remains unclear whether any fatalities occurred.
Venezuela sits atop some of the world’s largest oil reserves, yet its oil industry has been in decline due to aging infrastructure and U.S. sanctions. The country also faces triple‑digit inflation, and in January the U.S. military detained its former leader, Nicolás Maduro.