At least 589 dead, more than 2,900 injured after back-to-back major earthquakes devastate Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela– Search and rescue efforts continue in Venezuela as the death and injury toll continues to climb more than 36 hours after two major earthquakes caused catastrophic damage.
At least 589 people died and 2,980 are injured following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that hit on Wednesday night, Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez said on Venezuelan state media Friday morning.
Rodriguez said dozens of people have been rescued alive.
Hundreds of first responders from central and South America have arrived in Venezuela, and are digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings and damage in search of the missing on Friday.
WHAT TO DO DURING AND AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
On Wednesday night, at about 6:04 p.m. ET, an initial magnitude 7.2 earthquake was the first event in a doublet, and was followed roughly 39 seconds later by a larger magnitude 7.5 mainshock.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a doublet sequence is defined as two earthquakes of similar magnitude that occur close in time and proximity.
The first earthquake occurred roughly 14 miles east-northeast of San Felipe, Venezuela, at a depth of about 12.6 miles. This was the foreshock earthquake in the doublet.
About 39 seconds later, at 6:05 p.m. the mainshock magnitude 7.5 occurred roughly 17 miles east-northeast of San Felipe. This earthquake happened at a depth of 6.2 miles.
The second-highest shaking level rated by the USGS, classified as "violent," was reported near the earthquake's epicenter.
MAGNITUDE 6.5 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES OFF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES NEAR SITE OF JUNE 8 MAJOR QUAKE
Cities hundreds of miles from the earthquakes reported some level of shaking, according to USGS data.
Rodriguez said more than 200 aftershocks have occurred since the doublet earthquakes.
These were the strongest earthquakes to strike Venezuela since a magnitude 7.7 quake struck just off the country's coast in 1900, according to the USGS. A magnitude 7.0 quake hit the northern state of Sucre in 1997.
Rodriguez said she remains in contact with the governor of the state of La Guaira, which she said has suffered some of the most extensive damage.
La Guaira is about 30 miles north of Caracas. Images from the area showed a number of collapsed buildings, and the state has been declared a disaster zone.
The USGS estimated that significant economic losses bordering on disaster would result from the two major earthquakes.
It's likely the death toll will continue to climb as search and recovery efforts proceed.
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