Venezuela Hit By 2 Strongest Quakes In Over A Century, Emergency Declared

Back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage, collapsing buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled the region, with buildings evacuated in cities and areas spread as far as Brazil's Amazon about 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) away. In a brief address to the nation late Wednesday, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said the earthquakes caused damages in several states, but she did not give any figures of homes and buildings damaged, injuries or fatalities.