7.2 and 7.5 Magnitude Earthquakes Shake Venezuela, Prediction of Victims Could Reach Thousands

JAKARTA - Two strong earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5 shook the coastal area of Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24 afternoon local time. The shallow earthquake with a depth of about 10 kilometers triggered concerns about the extent of the damage and casualties.

The seismologist of the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Paul Earle, said that both earthquakes had the potential to have a very serious impact. Based on the modeling conducted by the USGS, the number of fatalities is estimated to reach thousands of people.

"The potential is more than 1,000 casualties to tens of thousands," he said, quoted by the New York Times, Thursday, June 25.

USGS data shows that the epicenter of the earthquake was off the west coast of Moron, Venezuela, at a depth of about 10 kilometers. The relatively shallow depth made the shock felt very strong in a number of areas, including Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

In Caracas, residents reportedly rushed out of tall buildings to save themselves shortly after the earthquake occurred. Until now, there have been no official reports on the number of casualties or the level of damage caused.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan civil defense authority has deployed teams to the area around the epicenter to assess the damage and monitor the condition of infrastructure.

The impact evaluation process is still ongoing. People living in coastal areas are asked to remain alert to the possibility of tsunami waves and aftershocks that may occur in the near future.