Updated 02.40 | Published 00.29
Double earthquakes have caused panic in Venezuela.
Several buildings have collapsed after the strong earthquakes.
Thousands are feared to have died in the great devastation.
Two strong earthquakes, the first with a magnitude of 7.2 and the second with a magnitude of 7.5, have occurred outside Venezuela’s coast, states the US Geological Survey USGS.
Many dead
The first quake hit the country at 18:04 local time on Wednesday evening. The second quake came just 40 seconds later, CNN reports.
On a normal day, the quake would have struck when many people were still on their way home from work. But since June 24 is a national holiday in Venezuela, more people than usual were probably at home when the earthquakes occurred, writes the BBC.
The USGS states that the death toll from the quake is estimated at between 10,000 and 100,000 people.
“It is likely that there will be many casualties and extensive damage, and that the disaster will be widespread,” states the USGS.
According to the AFP news agency, panic broke out in the capital Caracas after the twin earthquakes.
Buildings have shaken and residents have evacuated. A witness told Reuters that cracks appeared along the facade of their building.
Pictures from Caracas show great devastation and destroyed buildings.
Saw furniture from the street
Many were clearly shocked when they saw entire walls collapsed and furniture could be seen from the streets. In a shopping center in the city, people started screaming, writes TT.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello states that they are facing an “alarming situation” in some areas of the capital with collapsed buildings and houses, AP writes.
He is urging people to stay outdoors as aftershocks threaten to topple more buildings.
Several aftershocks have already occurred.
A tsunami warning was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but the warning for the former was later withdrawn.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have also issued a warning.
