Two powerful earthquakes tore through Venezuela on Wednesday evening, bringing down buildings in the capital Caracas and triggering a warning that 'high casualties' and widespread destruction were likely.The back-to-back quakes - measured at magnitudes 7.1 and 7.5 by the US Geological Survey - struck near the coast as terrified residents fled swaying buildings, watched walls collapse and saw dust billow over normally bustling neighborhoods.The USGS warned that the disaster could leave between 10,000 and 100,000 people dead, although authorities had not released an official death or injury toll by Wednesday night.'High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread,' the agency said in its initial assessment.Harrowing footage from Caracas showed emergency crews climbing through the rubble of a collapsed building as darkness fell, while other residents stood in the streets staring at shattered homes and exposed apartments.Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television that buildings and houses had been brought down in the capital.'Some buildings have been brought down (in Caracas), houses have collapsed,' he said.One witness described watching cracks race up the side of their apartment block as the ground shook, while residents in other areas rushed outside and stayed there, too frightened to return indoors. People run into a street in panic following an earthquake in Caracas on Wednesday evening Picture of a Bancaribe building that collapsed after an earthquake in Caracas on Wednesday BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images) Municipal police officers stand next to the remains of a collapsed structure following an earthquake in Caracas. The tremor, which was followed by several aftershocks A damaged building at Los Palos Grandes after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Venezuela Debris lies on a street following an earthquake in Caracas on Wednesday. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Venezuela the US Geological Survey (USGS) reportedEntire exterior walls were ripped away from some buildings, leaving furniture and the inside of apartments exposed to the street below.Columns of dust rose over two Caracas neighborhoods packed with restaurants and businesses as the quakes struck, sending people scrambling for safety.The twin tremors hit as many Venezuelans were at home observing a public holiday marking the 1821 military victory that secured the country's independence from Spain.Although the epicenter was on land, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves were possible along the coasts of Venezuela, Bonaire, Curaçao and Aruba.The first tremor happened at 6:04pm Venezuela time about 17 miles northwest of Montalbán, Venezuela and about 104 miles west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 8 miles. A second powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 then struck the country just one minute later, according to the USGS.The second quake had a depth of 6 miles and its epicenter was 10 miles southwest of the city of Morón, Venezuela.The quakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century although strong earthquakes are unusual in the country.While the Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. Along the Pacific coast - in Mexico and Chile, for example - earthquakes are frequent; the two countries sit along the seismically active tectonic belt known as the 'Pacific Ring of Fire,' responsible for 90% of earthquakes, according to the USGS. The temor happened at 6:04pm Venezuela time about 17 miles northwest of Montalbán, Venezuela People evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas and remained outside, many visibly shocked People head into the street after an earthquake in Caracas on Wednesday, triggering panic Debris lies on a street following an earthquake in Caracas. The tremor, which was followed by several aftershocks, was also felt in Colombia Members of the Fire Department rescue a person in Caracas Many residents headed out onto the street looking particularly shaken up after the earthquake People evacuated swaying apartment blocks and businesses as the earthquake sent shockwaves through Caracas Terrified Caracas residents stood outside damaged buildings as emergency crews assessed the aftermathInterior Minister Cabello said the quake could be felt in several states, adding that the Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had 'alarming situations' with collapsed homes and buildings.He urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.'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.' An injured woman is seen transported in the back of a pickup truck in Caracas First responders are seen at a damaged building at Los Palos Grandes after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struckRescue workers carry an injured man after the earthquake in Caracas, VenezuelaPeople walk amid debris after an earthquake in Caracas, VenezuelaA collapsed building is seen following Wednesday evening's earthquake Residents said cracks ran up the sides of buildings as the powerful quake rocked the capital A dog is rescued from a collapsed building following the earthquake Rescue workers evacuate an injured person from a collapsed building following the earthquakeResidents who managed to get our onto the streets shared their experiences.'It started off gently and then gradually grew, and in the end, we all had to leave our houses, go outside and gather together,' Caracas resident Hector Ricci said. '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.' 'As soon as it started, we began hearing people screaming,' said Astrid Ramirez, a 41-year-old publicist in western Caracas. 'Everyone was running down the stairs.''There was a very loud crash. Things fell in the house, jugs inside the refrigerator. I've never experienced anything like it,' said Coro Martinez, 56, who lives in eastern Caracas.Residents in the capital, which was also rocked by a deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 1967, rushed to evacuate as the quake shook buildings.Maria Romero, an 80-year-old pensioner on the south side of Caracas, said that the police helped her get out. 'This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967,' she added.Fire trucks could be seen on the streets in the capital, and the facades of some buildings had suffered significant damage. People appeared to be in shock in the moments following the quakes The back-to-back earthquakes appeared to traumatize many who got out alivePeople stay outside their homes after an earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela Rescuers search for victims in a collapsed building following an earthquake in CaracasRescue workers search for survivors at a collapsed building after an earthquake in CaracasOne witness said that ​cracks had formed up ​the side of their ⁠apartment and glass in the entryway had shattered. Many residents in Caracas also lost power and internet services.'Several walls in my building broke ​open or cracks formed,' a witness in Valencia, to the west of ​Caracas, told ⁠Reuters. 'As soon as it stopped (shaking), my husband and I evacuated.'The US Tsunami Warning System issued ⁠a tsunami threat for Puerto Rico and the Virgin ​Islands following ⁠the earthquake.The agency advised people in areas near the ocean to get out of the water, off the beach and away from harbors or inlets. View of a collapsed building following an earthquake in Caracas A motorcyclist rides past debris in Caracas, Venezuela Emergency services work at the site of a collapsed building after a strong earthquake shook north-central Venezuela People pray as they gather after an earthquake, in Caracas, Venezuela People assist a woman after an earthquake, in Caracas, Venezuela Emergency services work at the site of a collapsed building after two strong earthquakes shook north-central Venezuela The US embassy in Caracas urged its citizens to avoid damaged areas, not to enter damaged buildings and to seek secure shelter.'There are many injured people inside. It's a disaster,' one man could be heard saying in footage shot outside a building that had collapsed in San Bernardino, in northern Caracas.The exiled opposition leader and Nobel laureate, María Corina Machado, wrote on X: 'My heart, my infinite embrace, and my prayers are with every Venezuelan home in these hours of anguish. May strength, serenity and solidarity prevail among us in the face of this difficult moment.'