A violent double earthquake of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in the Aroa mountain range area, in northwestern Venezuela, and accompanied by about twenty aftershocks, has shaken several states in the country, including the district of Caracas. The tremors have caused the "collapse of buildings in different parishes" and have left "many structures at risk of collapse".
"Today (Wednesday), around 6 p.m. (midnight on Thursday the 25th in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands), two earthquakes occurred consecutively, the first of 7.2 and then one of 7.5 (on the Richter scale). At this time, 20 aftershocks have already been registered," declared the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, in a press conference in which she confirmed the declaration of a state of emergency.
Among the most serious consequences of the double earthquake, Rodríguez detailed the "collapse of buildings in different parishes," after the Vice President of Politics, Citizen Security and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, warned of "very alarming situations from a graphic point of view" in the neighborhoods of Los Palos Grandes and Altamira, in the municipality of Chacao, the area with the "most serious" damage. "Some buildings and houses and homes have come down, they have collapsed," Cabello emphasized.
In addition to the damage in the capital, the acting president pointed out significant destruction in the states of Miranda, La Guaira —"severely affected," with Maiquetía International Airport "closed due to serious damage"—, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón. Cabello added that damage has also been registered in Yaracuy, Lara, and Mérida, and reiterated that "many structures are at risk of collapse."
In this context, the vice president insisted that "no one should stay inside the buildings, because this type of event normally comes with aftershocks, which tend to finish collapsing some structures that have suffered in the main event," warning that the damaged constructions present "structural weakness and are coming down."
Damage to basic services and gas shutdown
On the other hand, Rodríguez has indicated that electricity and water supplies have also suffered "affectations" in numerous states. These incidents are added to the order —adopted "on the instructions of the president" and previously communicated by Cabello— to apply a "temporary closure" of the direct gas service to buildings "until the evaluation is completed".
"We do not want any kind of accident to happen," the vice president remarked, explaining that the measure "has a lot to do with people understanding that they cannot be in their homes, (...) that they cannot be in the buildings."
Likewise, Delcy Rodríguez has announced the suspension of metro and railway systems "to facilitate rescue and recovery efforts of inhabited infrastructure" and has communicated that "there will be no classes for the next few days of this week," a period during which activities not linked to essential services will also be paralyzed.
Health network activated and international alert
In the health sector, the leader has assured that "the entire public and private health network of the country has been launched, especially in the most affected areas, for the care of the injured," and has extended her condolences to "those who have unfortunately suffered the loss of a family member."
"I want to ask doctors, nurses, all health personnel as a whole to go to their workplaces so that we can attend to the people who are already being taken to the emergency rooms, both in hospitals and private health centers," Israel has requested.
The magnitudes communicated by Rodríguez have been confirmed by the Venezuelan Foundation of Seismological Investigations (Funvisis), whose records coincide with those of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). This organization has described "a double event" in the state of Yaracuy, with a "precursor" earthquake of magnitude 7.2, with an epicenter in San Felipe and at a depth of 21.9 kilometers, followed by the "main tremor" of magnitude 7.5, with an epicenter in Yumare and at a depth of ten kilometers.
"The USGS estimates that a high number of casualties and damage is likely, and that the disaster is probably widespread," the Service has stated, which has also warned that "aftershocks could occur, some potentially with strong shaking."