A major earthquake struck Venezuela and was felt strongly in its largest city, raising fears about the toll on the capital. According to the report, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook Venezuela, including Caracas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, a jolt powerful enough to send residents rushing out of their homes and workplaces.
In the capital itself, the shaking left visible destruction behind. According to the report, citing the Associated Press, buildings in Caracas were seen swaying, people remained outside in the streets, and entire walls collapsed, with furniture from inside the affected structures left visible from the street as the quake tore through neighborhoods.
The scale of the damage was underscored by what hung in the air afterward. According to the report, massive dust columns could be seen rising over two neighborhoods of the capital, areas where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy, a sign of just how much had come down when the ground moved.
Some of the structures did not survive the tremor at all. According to the report, at least one building completely collapsed, an image broadcast as night fell over Venezuela, where it was around 7:30 in the evening when the disaster unfolded across the city.
Authorities moved quickly to warn the public about the continuing danger. According to the report, the Interior Administrator said the earthquake could be felt in several states and that a neighborhood in Caracas had alarming situations with collapsed homes and buildings, urging people to remain outside because aftershocks could further damage already weakened structures.
Despite the scenes of collapse, the human cost remained unclear in the immediate aftermath. According to the report, there was no word yet on whether there had been any casualties, leaving officials and residents to assess the full impact of one of the most powerful earthquakes to hit the country in recent memory.