Two major earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, with the tremors causing visible damage across the capital and prompting warnings of significant casualties and widespread destruction.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, with both quakes centered west of Caracas. The agency issued a red alert for the region, indicating that "high casualties and extensive damage" were probable given the strength and location of the seismic activity.
Buildings in Caracas sustained damage from the successive shocks. The full extent of injuries and structural damage across the wider affected area was still being assessed as reports came in from the region.
A magnitude 7+ earthquake typically causes considerable harm to infrastructure and can result in significant loss of life, particularly in areas where building codes may not withstand such forces. The back-to-back nature of Wednesday's quakes raised concerns about aftershocks and further structural failures.
Author James Rodriguez: "Two back-to-back sevens hitting this close to a major capital is exactly the kind of event that separates casualty counts from fatality counts."
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