Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing structural damage in Caracas and sending players and spectators fleeing from a baseball stadium. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the first earthquake registered a magnitude 7.1, followed less than a minute later by a stronger 7.5 magnitude quake.
The epicenters were located near the coastal city of Morón, approximately 104 miles west of the capital, Caracas. The shallow depth of both earthquakes intensified the shaking felt across a wide area. The tremors were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century.
In Caracas, residents evacuated swaying buildings and remained outside, many visibly shaken by collapsed walls and debris. "The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong," said resident Roberto Damas. "We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell."
Authorities reported structural damage in several parts of the capital, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urging residents to stay outdoors if it was safe, citing the risk of aftershocks further weakening damaged structures. Dust columns were observed in neighborhoods where businesses were typically active.
The earthquakes were felt throughout northern Venezuela and into neighboring Colombia. Tsunami advisories were briefly issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands but were later canceled. Officials were still assessing the full extent of the damage and the human toll Wednesday night.