On Wednesdays, the local time west of the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was marred by a series of severe earthquakes, the collapse of buildings in the city and the human suffering. Rescue workers have been conducting search and rescue overnight, and the United States Geological Survey has warned that the disaster could cause extensive damage and high casualties.
Two strong earthquakes.
Data from the United States Geological Survey indicate that the magnitude of the first earthquake was 7.2, with the epicentre approximately 160 kilometres west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, the second 7.5-grade earthquake struck again, with an earthquake affecting the capital and surrounding areas.
According to a preliminary assessment by the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake “is likely to cause high casualties and widespread damage” and it is expected that the disaster could reach a wider region. The number of deaths and injuries throughout the country has not yet been officially announced.
There's a collapse in Caracas.
The Minister of the Interior of Venezuela, Cabello, stated on national television that buildings, houses and houses had collapsed, that the Government was using existing security and civil defence forces to respond and that fire and police had been activated.
The scene showed that, after the nightfall, relief workers were still searching for the trapped in the ruins of a collapsed building in the capital. Some of the family members gathered at the scene to obtain information about their missing relatives.
According to Mayor Duque of Chacón East of Caracas, at least two buildings in the area had collapsed, 16 had been injured and confirmed dead, but no specific number of persons had been reported.
The hospital has more hands on the wounded.
The earthquake occurred on a public holiday and many residents were at home. According to several witnesses, when the vibrations began, screams were heard inside the building, and the residents quickly ran down the building in order to escape. The view was also expressed that mobile phones gave short warning of an earthquake before a strong earthquake, which was followed by a rapid increase in vibration.
Fire-fighting vehicles were visible on the streets of Caracas, and damage to the outer surface of some buildings was evident. According to a local hospital staff member, night staff were required to work overtime to receive more injuries. Videos from within the hospital show that the corridor ceilings fell off and the pieces scattered over the ground.
Some municipalities have announced suspension of courses and local activities, at least until Monday, in order to measure losses and address subsequent security risks.
The tsunami was cancelled once.
The United States Tsunami Early Warning System issued tsunami threat alerts to Puerto Rico, the United States and the British Virgin Islands following the earthquake and stated that Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire could also be affected by dangerous waves. About an hour later, the warning was cancelled.
Venezuela is situated along the border between the Caribbean and South America, with more frequent seismic activity. According to the United States Geological Survey, there was a strong earthquake in the country in 1812, causing widespread destruction in Merida and Caracas, with an estimated 30,000 deaths.