Three powerful earthquakes struck northwestern Venezuela within a span of approximately five hours on Wednesday night, sending tremors across parts of neighboring Colombia, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The seismic activity commenced at 6:21 p.m. local time with a 6.2-magnitude quake originating in Venezuela’s Zulia state, roughly 15 miles east of Mene Grande. This city is a significant hub for Venezuela’s oil industry, located near Maracaibo. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.
Later that evening, at 10:42 p.m., a 4.9-magnitude aftershock hit Zulia. This was followed by another significant 6.3-magnitude earthquake at 11:51 p.m., centered in the state of Trujillo. All three quakes were relatively shallow, striking at a depth of less than nine miles. Such shallow events typically increase the likelihood of surface damage.
Visual evidence circulating on social media, including images and videos, appears to depict considerable damage to various buildings and sections of roads within the affected Zulia region.
The strong ground motion extended into Colombia, with residents in Medellín, a major northwestern city situated approximately 400 miles from the earthquake epicenters, reporting significant shaking. Mayor Fico Gutiérrez of Medellín confirmed that no immediate damages were reported in his city.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jaime Andrés Beltrán of Bucaramanga, a city in north-central Colombia, announced on social media that local authorities had been placed on high alert, preparing for any potential rescue operations.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.