7.5-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Venezuela; Potential for Tens of Thousands of Casualties

Powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in succession on the evening of June 24, local time.

While the exact scale of the damage has not yet been confirmed, Reuters reported, citing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), that the death toll could range from at least 10,000 to as many as 100,000.

According to the USGS, the two earthquakes, which occurred less than a minute apart, measured 7.1 and 7.5 in magnitude, respectively. Their epicenters were located west and southwest of Morón, along Venezuela's Caribbean coast.

Following the strong tremors, residents scrambled to evacuate as a large number of houses and buildings collapsed in the capital, Caracas.

※