Two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela seconds apart have shaken the entire country and forced authorities to declare a national emergency. The government has confirmed casualties, and in the most alarming sign yet, early assessments suggest the death toll could rise from several thousand to as high as one hundred thousand.
Aftershocks expected for a week
The danger to Venezuela is far from over. Experts believe the country is highly likely to keep feeling aftershocks of magnitude 3, 4 and 5 over the coming week. According to Vashon Wright, a geophysics expert at the University of California, there is a 99 percent chance of aftershocks over the next seven days. He said tremors of magnitude 3 and 4 are all but certain, while the likelihood of a magnitude 5 aftershock is more than 90 percent. Wright did offer one piece of reassurance, however, noting that the chance of another major quake of magnitude 6 or 7 within the next week is fairly low.
Death toll could reach one hundred thousand
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has issued a deeply worrying warning about the scale of this disaster. In its initial assessment, the agency said the powerful quake could cause heavy loss of life and widespread destruction. The USGS estimates that the death toll could land anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000, cautioning that the disaster is likely to bring large-scale damage to both lives and property.
Collapsing buildings and fire the biggest threat
After tremors this strong, the real danger is only beginning. Caltech seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones said the biggest and most immediate threat following such a powerful earthquake is the collapse of buildings and other structures. She warned that in densely populated areas, violent shaking can rupture gas pipelines and damage power systems. The result is a serious risk of large fires breaking out, which can multiply the devastation.
Latin American nations stand with Venezuela
In the wake of the tragedy, several Latin American countries rallied behind Venezuela and expressed sympathy for those affected. El Salvador, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica and Chile were among the nations that offered support and solidarity. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said his country stands with the people of Venezuela in this difficult hour and is praying for the affected families. Mexico's foreign ministry also voiced deep sorrow over the losses and expressed its solidarity. Brazil wished the injured a speedy recovery, while Bolivia hoped for swift relief and rehabilitation for those affected. Costa Rica said it stands wholeheartedly with the Venezuelan people, and the Chilean government went a step further by offering humanitarian assistance and support in rescue operations if needed.
Internet knocked out in Caracas and beyond
The earthquake has also dealt a heavy blow to Venezuela's power and telecom infrastructure. As a result, internet connectivity has fallen sharply across many areas, including the capital Caracas. According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, internet services in Venezuela were badly disrupted after the quake, with a steep drop in connectivity recorded in Caracas and several other parts of the country.
Three countries shaken in a single day: is there a link?
What raised eyebrows was that Japan, Venezuela and the United States all experienced strong earthquakes on the same day, prompting questions over whether the three events were somehow connected. Experts have a clear answer: no. On the same day, Japan recorded a magnitude 6.9 quake, Venezuela was hit by tremors of 7.5 and 7.2, and California in the United States registered a 5.6. Dr. Lucy Jones said the three earthquakes have nothing to do with one another. She explained that they occurred on entirely different fault systems and tectonic plate boundaries, so one quake did not trigger another. According to her, major earthquakes thousands of kilometres apart generally do not raise the odds of a big quake elsewhere in the world. Dr. Jones added that geological stress had been building up in these regions for decades or even centuries, and large quakes along active plate boundaries are considered part of a natural process, though their exact timing cannot be predicted in advance.
National emergency declared
Following these two strong quakes in quick succession, a national emergency has been declared across Venezuela. The country's acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the emergency on Wednesday after the back-to-back tremors. Addressing the nation on television, she said lives had been lost in the disaster and expressed her deep condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. She did not, however, give a figure for the number of dead.
