The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.1, occurred at around 10PM GMT Wednesday. Its epicenter was 21 kilometers west of Morón on the Caribbean coast. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometers and could be felt as far away as Colombia's capital Bogota. Just a minute later, the USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake, with a depth of 10 kilometers. Its epicenter was 16 kilometers southwest of Morón.
The USGS said casualties could reach thousands of people, but Venezuelan authorities have not released an official figure. Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a state of national emergency. Airports and schools in the affected areas have been closed. The quakes were followed by several aftershocks which knocked down buildings in the Caracas and left residents shaken.
In Bogota of Colombia, the tremors triggered alarms and some residents evacuated buildings as a precaution. The Colombian disaster management agency has ruled out the possibility of a tsunami taking place in the aftermath.
