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Venezuela rocked by dual quakes, USGS warns of 10,000–100,000 deaths
Twin earthquakes, a 7.2 and a 7.5, collapsed buildings in Caracas. USGS warned of 10,000–100,000 fatalities. Officials gave no immediate death toll.
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Strong earthquakes struck west of Venezuela's capital on Wednesday afternoon, collapsing buildings in Caracas and drawing an unusually dire estimate from the U.S. Geological Survey: "high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread."
A magnitude 7.2 quake hit about 160 km (100 miles) west of Caracas, followed within a minute by a 7.5 tremor, the USGS said. Its initial death toll range ran from 10,000 to 100,000. Authorities did not immediately offer their own estimate of deaths or injuries.
"Some buildings have been brought down, houses have collapsed," Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television. Video footage showed emergency workers climbing into the ruins of one collapsed building in the capital as night fell.
Many Venezuelans were at home when the quakes hit, celebrating a public holiday commemorating an 1821 military victory that secured Venezuela's independence from Spain.
"As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming," said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicist in western Caracas. "Everyone was running down the stairs."