Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes Venezuela, tsunami advisories issued

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck northwest Venezuela on Wednesday evening, shaking buildings in Caracas, prompting evacuations and triggering tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered 17.6 miles southeast of Montalbán, Venezuela, and hit at a depth of 8.2 miles. The BBC reported the quake struck at 18:04 local time, citing USGS data, and placed the depth at 13.2 kilometers.

The National Weather Service’s U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued advisories for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands after the earthquake. “Based on all available data, there is a tsunami threat to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of sea level fluctuations and strong ocean currents that could be a hazard along coasts, beaches, in harbors and in coastal waters,” the weather service said.

The BBC reported that tsunami threats were also issued for Venezuela, Aruba and Bonaire, with advisory threats issued to Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, citing the U.S. Tsunami Warning System. Colombia said in a social media post that the earthquake had not created a tsunami threat for its Caribbean coastline.

Venezuela’s state-run television channel, Venezolana de Televisión, reported that the quake was felt across the country, including in Caracas, the capital and largest city. Witnesses also reported tremors in neighboring Colombia, the BBC said, including in Bogotá, where some people were evacuated as a precaution.

In Caracas, people rushed out of swaying buildings and stayed outside after the shaking stopped. Many appeared shocked as they looked at damaged structures. In some places, entire walls had collapsed, exposing furniture inside to the street. Dust columns were visible in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are normally busy.

Venezuela’s interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, said the quake was felt in several states. Speaking on state television, he said buildings were down in Caracas, Reuters reported through the BBC. Cabello also said the Altamira neighborhood had “alarming situations” involving collapsed homes and buildings, and he urged residents to remain outside because aftershocks could further damage weakened structures.

One Caracas witness reported that cracks appeared in an apartment and glass shattered, Reuters reported through the BBC. The BBC also reported that a photograph taken by an Agence France-Presse journalist showed a building, believed to be a bank in Caracas, in ruins.

Officials had not yet released a clear damage assessment or injury toll. The extent of destruction remained unclear Wednesday night as authorities and residents assessed the impact across Venezuela and nearby areas.