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Twin quakes strike Venezuela
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within seconds of each other on Wednesday, killing at least 188 people and leaving more than 200 trapped, with more than 1,500 people injured, according to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
“killing at least 188 people and leaving more than 200 trapped”
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quakes were a 7.2-magnitude foreshock and a 7.5-magnitude mainshock that struck 39 seconds apart along the San Sebastian fault on Venezuela’s northern coast.
The first quake hit west of Morón on the Caribbean coast about 170 kilometers (105 miles) west of Caracas at a depth of 22 kilometers, and the second was centered 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Morón at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The heaviest damage and casualties were reported in La Guaira, a coastal region north of the capital, Caracas, where Rodríguez said authorities deployed rescue teams from other parts of the country.
The BBC reported that the twin quakes shook Caracas at about 18:04 local time (22:04 GMT) on Wednesday, with the worst-hit areas including the neighbourhoods of Los Palos Grandes and Altamira.
Global reactions and warnings
As the death toll climbed, the USGS warned that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable” and that the “disaster is likely widespread,” while Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and said the Simon Bolivar international airport in Caracas was closed due to damage.
The BBC said Rodríguez told the public that La Guaira, a region north of the capital, had been hit the hardest, and that airport, rail and transport services had been halted.
International offers of help poured in, including Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said, “On behalf of Canadians, I offer my sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who were lost,” and announced Canada was preparing humanitarian assistance.
In Caracas, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the worst-hit areas included Los Palos Grandes and Altamira, and the BBC reported that 30 aftershocks had since been felt across the country.
The Guardian reported that Donald Trump said the US was ready to help, quoting him as saying the earthquakes left “a devastating number of deaths,” and noting that the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said the US was “immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance”.
Aftershocks, infrastructure, and aid
Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and urged citizens to evacuate damaged buildings, while the USGS said the earthquakes were a 7.2 “foreshock” followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5 “mainshock.”
“a 44% chance it could hit up to 10,000”
The BBC reported that Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly, said 250 buildings had been damaged or lost, mostly in La Guaira, and that the main international airport in Caracas was closed due to earthquake damage.
In the aftermath, the USGS said there was a 44% chance it could hit up to 10,000 and a 30% chance it could reach 100,000, while the BBC cautioned those figures were calculated based on previous earthquakes and other factors.
The Guardian reported that the US was ready to help and that Spain said it was ready to send 54 army rescuers to Venezuela, while France said it had 85 rescue workers who could be deployed.
The USGS .gov page also warned that a “Red alert for fatalities related to earthquake shaking” was in effect and said “High casualties and extensive damage are likely, and the disaster is expected to be widespread,” as it listed vulnerable building types including unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block construction.
