{"id":17651,"date":"2026-06-25T04:03:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T04:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17651"},"modified":"2026-06-25T04:03:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T04:03:42","slug":"back-to-back-powerful-earthquakes-hit-venezuela-causing-widespread-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=17651","title":{"rendered":"Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela, causing widespread damage"},"content":{"rendered":"

By REGINA GARCIA CANO and JUAN PABLO ARRAEZ, Associated Press<\/strong><\/p>\n

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) \u2014 Powerful back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.<\/p>

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The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities as far away as Brazil\u2019s Amazon, about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Caracas.<\/p>\n

In a brief address to the nation late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez said the earthquakes caused damages in several states, but she did not give any figures on the number of homes and buildings affected, or on injuries or fatalities.<\/p>\n

The earthquakes damaged the country\u2019s main airport, Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar International Airport, severely enough to lead to its closure, she said, adding that classes were being canceled for several days.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe urge our population to remain calm,\u201d Rodr\u00edguez said. \u201cWe urge unity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodr\u00edguez also asked all health care professionals in the country to report to hospitals to assist anyone who was injured. The Ministry of Education late Wednesday said some schools would be used as shelters and donation centers.<\/p>\n

In the coastal state of Falcon, Gov. V\u00edctor Clark said 32 people had been hospitalized and more than four hours after the earthquake there were still 15 people trapped.<\/p>

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The U.S. Geological Survey initially said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1, later revising that to 7.2. Its epicenter was west of the community of Mor\u00f3n, located along the country\u2019s Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometers (13.6 miles).<\/p>\n

The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and its epicenter was 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Mor\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

The quakes, among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, struck shortly after 6 p.m. People evacuated swaying buildings in the capital Caracas, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.<\/p>\n