The country's interim leader declared a state of emergency on Wednesday following shocks measuring 7.5 magnitude after two quakes hit in less than a minute.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake and a 7.5-magnitude were less than a minute apart, said the U.S. Geological Survey. The second earthquake was the largest to hit the country since 1900.

Several earthquakes shook Venezuela's capital of Caracas on Wednesday afternoon,witnesses reported.

US Geological Survey estimates 44 per cent chance fatalities could exceed 10,000