Three powerful earthquakes recently struck northwestern Venezuela within a mere five-hour window on Wednesday night, sending ripples of seismic activity across parts of neighboring Colombia, according to the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.).
The seismic activity commenced at 6:21 p.m. local time with a 6.2-magnitude quake centered in Venezuela’s Zulia state, approximately 15 miles east of Mene Grande, a city near Maracaibo, a vital hub for Venezuela’s oil industry. Fortunately, no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities emerged following this initial tremor.
Later that evening, Zulia experienced a 4.9-magnitude tremor at 10:42 p.m., followed by a substantial 6.3-magnitude earthquake at 11:51 p.m. in the state of Trujillo. Given their shallow depth of less than nine miles, these earthquakes had a high potential for causing significant ground-level damage, as noted by the U.S.G.S.
An interactive map illustrating the shake intensity from the U.S.G.S. indicated widespread effects. The map showed areas experiencing a shake intensity of 4 or greater, which the U.S.G.S. classifies as “light,” though the earthquake could be felt beyond these mapped regions. This data was compiled by William B. Davis and John Keefe.
Dramatic footage captured by security cameras in Venezuela’s Zulia state vividly showed the impactful tremors from two of the earthquakes. Timestamps on the video clearly indicated the quakes occurred about five and a half hours apart, documenting the ground movement.
Reports and media circulating on social media platforms revealed visible damage to buildings and roads across Zulia following the quakes, hinting at the force of the seismic events.
The powerful shaking was distinctly felt in parts of Colombia, including Medellín, a major city located roughly 400 miles from the earthquake epicenters. Mayor Fico Gutiérrez of Medellín confirmed no immediate reports of damage in his city.
In Bucaramanga, another north-central Colombian city, Mayor Jaime Andrés Beltrán announced on social media that local authorities were placed on high alert, ready to respond to any potential rescue needs in the aftermath of the quakes.
This remains a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.