A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Venezuela on Wednesday, causing buildings to sway in the capital city of Caracas. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) located the epicenter approximately 28 kilometers (17 miles) west of Moron, a community situated along the nation's Caribbean coast. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 13 kilometers.
Residents in Caracas evacuated buildings and homes as they felt the tremors. As of Wednesday, authorities had not reported any injuries or damages resulting from the seismic event. The USGS is responsible for monitoring and reporting earthquakes globally.