Venezuela was shaken by two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday evening, sending residents into the streets, damaging buildings in Caracas, and briefly triggering tsunami alerts for parts of the Caribbean. The stronger quake was measured at magnitude 7.5, while a preceding tremor registered magnitude 7.2, according to U.S. seismic monitoring data.

Major Quakes Strike Northern Venezuela

The first quake hit near the coast of Venezuela and was followed about 39 seconds later by the stronger mainshock west of Morón, a town in Carabobo state. The events were shallow, which made the shaking feel more intense across a wide area, including the capital and nearby states.earthquake.

Reports from Caracas described collapsed walls, dust clouds, and frightened residents evacuating homes and businesses as the ground shook. Officials said the tremors were felt across several Venezuelan states, including areas around the capital where damage was reported in multiple neighborhoods.

Damage Reported In Caracas

Videos and eyewitness accounts from Caracas showed partial building collapses in districts such as Altamira, where structural damage was among the most visible in the city. The shaking also caused panic in commercial areas, with many people rushing outdoors and remaining in the open because of concern about aftershocks.

The country’s interior minister said some buildings had fallen and urged people to stay outside while authorities assessed the risk of further tremors. Early reports indicated that emergency crews were working to determine the full extent of the damage and whether anyone remained trapped inside collapsed structures.

Tsunami Alerts Briefly Issued

The earthquakes also prompted tsunami-related warnings in parts of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as nearby islands such as Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Those alerts were later lifted or canceled after monitoring agencies determined the immediate threat had passed.

Officials said the advisory was issued out of caution because of the earthquake’s size and offshore location. Even after the warning was withdrawn, authorities continued advising residents in coastal areas to remain alert for unusual ocean activity and official updates.

Airport And Transportation Disruptions

Damage was also reported at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, where footage showed visible disruption inside the terminal after the quake. Some reports indicated parts of the roof were damaged, adding to concerns about transportation and infrastructure in the region.

The earthquakes affected a broad stretch of northern Venezuela, and early accounts suggested the shaking was strong enough to disrupt daily life far beyond Caracas. Authorities were still assessing roads, public buildings, utilities, and airport operations as the immediate emergency response continued.

What The USGS Said

The U.S. Geological Survey said the stronger quake measured magnitude 7.5 and occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers, making it a shallow and potentially destructive event. The agency warned that high casualties and extensive damage were probable, with the disaster likely to be widespread.

Seismologists also said the 7.5 quake was part of a double event that followed the earlier 7.2 tremor by less than a minute. The activity was linked to shallow strike-slip faulting near the complex boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates.

Aftershocks Remain A Concern

Aftershocks were expected following the main quake, and officials warned that additional shaking could worsen damage in already weakened buildings. In a country where many residents were already outside after the initial tremors, the risk of more seismic activity remained a major concern through the night.

Emergency teams continued searching for injuries and structural damage while local authorities urged the public to stay away from unstable buildings. As the situation developed, the main priorities were confirming casualties, checking infrastructure, and preventing further harm from aftershocks.