A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Venezuela on Wednesday, occurring near the capital city of Caracas. Observations of the tremors were also noted by individuals as far away as Colombia. Data from the US Geological Survey indicates the quake centered on the Montalbán region at a shallow depth of 13.2km, occurring at 6:04 p.m. local time.
Residents in Caracas fled their homes as the ground shifted. One local account shared with Reuters described walls splitting and windows breaking within their residence. In response to the seismic event, the US Tsunami Warning System has released tsunami alerts for Venezuela, Bonaire, and Aruba, while warning advisories are in place for the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
This situation remains active, and additional information will be provided as reports come in.
