Venezuela Quakes | Venezuela Earthquakes Kill At Least 32, With 700 Injured

Two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday evening (local time), killing at least 32 people and injuring about 700 others, damaging buildings and prompting acting president Delcy Rodriguez to declare a state of emergency. The first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2, and its epicentre was west of the community of Moron, about 168 kilometres west of the capital, Caracas. The quake had a depth of 22 kilometres. The second earthquake struck just a minute later, with a 7.5-magnitude. It had a depth of 10 kilometres, and its epicentre was 16 kilometres southwest of Moron. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has said that "high casualties and extensive damage are probable" and the disaster is likely widespread, initially estimating the death count would most likely range from 10,000 to 1,00,000. These two quakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.