A powerful earthquake sequence off Venezuela’s northern coast has left widespread destruction and triggered a fast-moving international relief response, with the Turkish Red Crescent moving quickly into coordination mode alongside global partners and signaling readiness to deploy aid.
The disaster unfolded late on Wednesday, when a magnitude 7.2 quake struck near the coastal region of Moron in Carabobo state, followed just seconds later by a stronger 7.5 mainshock.
The shallow depth of both quakes intensified shaking across a wide area, including the capital Caracas, where residents rushed into the streets as buildings swayed and power disruptions were reported in several districts.
Seismologists described the second quake as one of the strongest in Venezuela in over a century, with comparisons drawn to historic offshore events in the region.
The U.S. Geological Survey noted the combination of magnitude, depth, and proximity to populated coastal zones as factors that significantly raised the risk of severe damage.
