Politics

Venezuela Hit by 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake

This afternoon, an earthquake with its epicenter in Sucre State, shook the country. Funvisis doesn’t have the technology to accurately report its magnitude. No deaths or injuries have been reported.

Gabriela Mesones Rojo
Photo: USGS

Venezuela’s northern coast was just affected by an earthquake that was felt across the Caribbean and throughout the Venezuelan territory. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, it was a 7.3 magnitude, while Funvisis reported a 6.3 magnitude and The Colombian Geological Service said it was a 7.0. Regardless, it affected Granada, Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago and Colombia, struck off the South American northern coast at 5:31 p.m. local time, 38 km east of Carúpano, Sucre.

What could be the reason for the different magnitudes reported? Journalist Federico Black says a source from Funvisis blames it on the technological decline of the institution:

The earthquake was intensely felt in Caracas while government leaders held a public meeting to talk about the recently announced economic measures. The moments during and after the quake were captured on VTV, as Diosdado Cabello delivered a speech about how these measures will fix the Venezuelan economy: “This is the force of the revolution,” he said, looking confused.

Footage posted on social media shows the intensity of the quake. Many pictures have been posted reporting structural damage of several buildings,  including the iconic (unfinished) skyscraper Torre Confinanzas (AKA Torre de David).

Edwin Rojas, governor of Sucre, said that there has been no infrastructural damage, injuries or deaths reported in any of the 15 municipalities that conform the state, where the epicenter was.

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