• A powerful earthquake struck near the northern coast of Venezuela on Wednesday, leading to collapsed buildings in the capital, Caracas. It happened 28 kilometers (about 17.3 miles) northwest of Montalbán, where some of the country’s largest refineries are located.
• The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.5, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It happened just 40 seconds after a foreshock with a magnitude of 7.2 rocked the area. Terrified residents were seen evacuating buildings with their loved ones and pets before gathering in the street.
• While an initial advisory warned of potential tsunami waves, the USGS says there in no tsunami threat.
• A 6.9 magnitude earthquake also struck near Japan on Wednesday. The epicenter was located 35 kilometers east northeast of Kuji in the north of Honshu, Japan’s main island. There were no early reports of damage.
• Sigue nuestra cobertura en español del terremoto en Venezuela
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Ecuador’s National Secretariat for Risk Management said on Wednesday that it had activated “continuous monitoring” following the earthquake in Venezuela.
“According to the assessment by INOCAR (the Navy’s Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute), this event does not meet the conditions to generate a tsunami along Ecuador’s mainland and island coasts,” the institution said on its X account.
It urged the public to stay informed through official channels.
Ecuador sits on the northwestern coast of South America and is separated from Venezuela by Colombia.
The US Geological Survey issued a red alert through its PAGER system, estimating that the shaking from the quake could result in thousands of casualties.
Venezuela has deployed security forces across the country to respond to emergencies “as many structures are at risk of collapse,” according to the Ministry of Communication and Information.
The government has authorized the shut-off of direct gas supplies to certain buildings “as a preventative measure” while authorities assess damaged structures, the ministry added in a statement.
The quake was felt in states across the country including Yaracuy, Lara, Mérida, Aragua, Carabobo, La Guaira, and Miranda, as well as the Capital District, the statement said.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the earthquake could be felt in several states and described “alarming situations” in one Caracas neighborhood.
A powerful earthquake struck near the northern coast of Venezuela on Wednesday, causing buildings to collapse in the capital, Caracas.