Venezuela hit by strongest earthquake since 1900

A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday, becoming the strongest recorded in the country in more than a century and raising concerns about potential casualties and widespread damage.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake is the largest to hit Venezuela or its offshore region since the devastating 1900 San Narciso earthquake, which measured 7.7 in magnitude and left dozens dead and injured.

The latest tremor was preceded by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, which seismologists described as a foreshock. Experts said the larger 7.5-magnitude quake followed shortly after as the main seismic event.

Emergency workers were deployed across affected areas, including the capital, Caracas, where rescue teams searched through collapsed structures for survivors. Authorities were still assessing the extent of the damage as rescue operations continued.

USGS officials warned that the earthquake could prove more destructive than the 1900 disaster, although the full human and economic impact remains unclear.

Historical records show the 1900 earthquake damaged hundreds of buildings across Caracas, toppled church towers and public structures, and forced many residents into temporary shelters.

Geophysicists explained that the two earthquakes were connected, noting that large seismic events can alter underground stress patterns and trigger subsequent tremors.

Venezuela sits along the boundary between the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates, making it one of the more seismically active regions in northern South America. The country has experienced several major earthquakes in recent decades, including magnitude 7.3 and 7.0 events in 2018 and 1997 respectively.

Officials continue to monitor the situation as emergency responders work to determine the scale of casualties and destruction caused by the powerful quake.