Major earthquakes strike northern Venezuela, near Caracas

Major earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, severely affecting areas near Caracas and prompting emergency measures. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 7.2-magnitude foreshock at about 6 p.m. Eastern Time, followed less than a minute later by a 7.5-magnitude quake in the same region. USGS estimated the epicenters were about 3 miles apart near Morón on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, roughly 100 miles west of Caracas. Photos and video posted online showed leveled buildings, people fleeing for safety, and damage at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, which has since closed. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, while USGS modeling for the 7.5 quake suggested deaths could range from the thousands to tens of thousands, with losses reaching billions to tens of billions of dollars. The agency also forecast a 40% chance of a magnitude 6+ quake within a week and a near certainty of at least magnitude 5.