Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hammered Venezuela on Wednesday (June 24), collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas and triggering panic at a nearby airport. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, with its epicentre west of the community of Morón, along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 104 miles west of Caracas. The quake struck at a depth of eight miles.
Second Quake Stronger
Minutes later, the USGS recorded an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake, with a depth of six miles and an epicentre 10 miles southwest of Morón. Footage circulating on social media shows people panicking at an airport near the Venezuelan capital following the back-to-back earthquakes.
Tsunami Advisory Issued
Following the quakes, a tsunami advisory was issued, warning of potentially hazardous tsunami waves possible for coasts within 300 kilometers of the earthquake epicenter. First responders are searching for victims in a collapsed building in Caracas, as seen in images from the scene.
