Caracas: A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale hit Venezuela’s Zulia state on Thursday, causing tremors in the area and causing people to panic briefly. No casualties or severe property damage, however, have been reported so far, according to officials and monitoring agencies.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says the earthquake’s epicenter was 24 kilometers from Mene Grande, the oil-producing city in northwestern Venezuela. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 7.8 kilometers beneath the surface of the Earth, making its impact felt in surrounding towns.
Citizens described experiencing severe shaking that lasted a few seconds, prompting many to run out of buildings and offices into open spaces. Social media platforms reported individuals seeking refuge in streets as buildings swayed. In the initial stages, no power loss, collapsed buildings, or emergency medical conditions were reported.
No official statement has yet come from the Venezuelan government concerning the quake. Emergency services in the area, however, reported that they were keeping a close eye on the situation and sent teams of assessors to Zulia and the areas around it to assess risks.
Seismologists explained that the area is geologically active since the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates are moving. Though Venezuela has had devastating earthquakes before, specialists pointed out that the remote site of Thursday’s earthquake probably minimized the potential for extensive damage.
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Global agencies, such as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, reported that the quake did not prompt any tsunami danger in the Caribbean Sea.
Venezuela’s Zulia state harbors one of the nation’s most critical oil centers, causing fears about possible interruption to oil operations. But initial reports showed that oil infrastructure in the area was not affected.
Local media reported residents saying the earthquake was “sudden and strong” but breathed a sigh of relief that no severe damage was experienced. “We sensed the earth shifting intensively, but fortunately, nothing came down,” reported a resident of Mene Grande.
Officals have asked people to stay vigilant, not to spread rumors, and adhere to official information. Emergency hotlines have been put on alert for the possibility of aftershocks.
The quake comes as a reminder of Venezuela’s susceptibility to disasters at a time of its deepening economic and political crisis.
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