Venezuela’s acting leader Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency after two back-to-back earthquakes hit the country overnight.
“Today, at around 18:00 in the evening, two earthquakes occurred in succession, the first a 7.2 and immediately afterward a 7.5. By this hour, 20 aftershocks have already been recorded,” she said, speaking on Wednesday night local time.
“It is an event with serious consequences, and there are states that are particularly affected. In the capital city, Caracas, there were building collapses in different parishes, the state of Miranda, and the state of La Guaira. The states of Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcon, where we have had impact, have also been severely affected.”
The US Geological Survey measured the quakes at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, with the epicentres near Moron, around 160 kilometres west of Caracas. Its PAGER system issued a red alert, warning that casualties could eventually reach between 10,000 and 100,000 based on the intensity of shaking, population exposure and building vulnerability.
Rodriguez later confirmed at least 32 people were killed and more than 700 were injured, while warning that the toll could rise as rescue work continues.
Emergency authorities deployed specialised search-and-rescue teams to sift through the rubble of flattened buildings, urging citizens to stay outdoors as powerful aftershocks continue to rock the region.
Source: Viory
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.