A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck central Venezuela on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. Residents described the shaking as intense, noting that buildings swayed and power outages occurred across the region, including in Caracas.
Casualty figures remained uncertain at first. Social media images revealed heavily damaged structures, with smoke and dust rising from the debris. In Caracas, residents gathered in the streets to assess the destruction, which included several collapsed buildings.
Many residents in the area live in buildings that are susceptible to seismic shaking, although more resistant structures are also present, according to the USGS. The most vulnerable structures are those built from unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block, the agency added.
The quake’s epicenter was located near Montalbán, a town of roughly 25,000 inhabitants in the coastal state of Carabobo, and it occurred at 6:04 p.m. local time.
Although the earthquake originated on land, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that tsunami waves could affect the coasts of Venezuela, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Aruba.
Venezuelan officials did not immediately reply to requests for comment, and representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas also remained silent.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
