A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening.
The quake sent shockwaves through the capital of Caracas, collapsing walls and prompting tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A second, even stronger 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck just one minute later, centered about 10 miles southwest of Morón at a depth of roughly 6 miles. Together, the back-to-back quakes rank among the most powerful to hit Venezuela in over a century.
In Caracas, the destruction was immediate and evident. Entire building walls crumbled, leaving furniture exposed to the open air and dust columns rising above two separate neighborhoods. Restaurants and businesses that would normally be bustling on a Wednesday evening were abandoned as terrified residents fled into the streets.
"The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong," Caracas resident Roberto Damas said. "We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out."
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, speaking on state television, confirmed the quake was felt across several states and described "alarming situations" in Caracas' Altamira neighborhood, where homes and buildings had collapsed. He urged motorists to yield to emergency vehicles and called on residents to remain outside, as aftershocks could pose further danger to already-damaged structures.
"We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most," Cabello said.
Tsunami Alert Issued
Across the Caribbean, authorities moved quickly to warn coastal communities. The NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The earliest estimated arrival of hazardous sea level fluctuations and strong ocean currents was 7:19 p.m. AST at Peñuelas, Puerto Rico.Forecasts called for sea level fluctuations of less than one foot above normal tide levels at all monitored coastal locations—including San Juan, Ponce, Charlotte Amalie in the USVI, and Roadtown in the BVI—with hazardous conditions expected to persist for up to six hours.
Officials urged anyone near the water to immediately move away from beaches, harbors, marinas, bays, and inlets, and warned that even relatively minor wave activity could generate dangerous currents capable of drowning or injuring people in the water. Boaters already at sea were advised to steer clear of shallow waters and to move to a depth of at least 450 feet where time and conditions permitted.
As of Wednesday evening, no tsunami waves had been confirmed, and Puerto Rico lifted its alert.
Residents and officials were directed to monitor local emergency management guidance and to consult tsunami.gov and earthquake.usgs.gov for the latest information.