Several structures collapsed in the capital of Venezuela following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter near Morón.
The earthquake struck roughly 104 miles (168 kilometers) west of Caracas with a depth of 8 miles (13 kilometers), per NBC News.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the first earthquake was near the town of San Felipe, about 100 miles west of the capital, and the second, larger earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.5, hit only 39 seconds later close to the nearby town of Yumare.
“High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,” the USGS wrote on its site.
The quakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.
Video shared on social media showed several structures collapsing in the nation’s capital as a result of the earthquake.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake shook several states across the country, with injuries and potential deaths in what was described as an “alarming situation” while urging people to remain outside as the region experiences aftershocks.
“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said on state television. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”
“The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong,” Caracas resident Roberto Damas said. “We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out.”
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