A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the eastern coast of Venezuela Tuesday afternoon, according to the USGS.The quake hit around 2:30 p.m. on the northeast coast of the South American nation, about 13 miles southwest from the town of Irapa.Buildings were evacuated in the capital Caracas and people fled homes as the damage was being evaluated. Shaking was felt as far away as Colombia's capital.It was initially estimated at 7.0, but the USGS later updated the magnitude to 7.3.The depth was estimated at 76 miles.DEVELOPING: This story will be updated as more details become available.</s>UPDATE: 6:55 p.m. EDT—Nestor Luis Reverol, Venezuela's interior minister, wrote on Twitter that first responders were ready to "address any emergency" following Tuesday's earthquake.

It was not immediately clear whether there were any significant damage or fatalities.

UPDATE: 6:36 p.m. EDT—The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center revised its forecast following an earthquake north of Venezuela on Tuesday, saying there was no tsunami threat from the quake.

"Minor sea level fluctuations up to 30 cm above and below the normal tide may occur in coastal areas near the earthquake over the next few hours and continuing for up to several hours," the PTWC said.

The center previously said some waves were possible.

UPDATE: 6:18 p.m. EDT—The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said based on preliminary information about the earthquake, "hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300 km of the earthquake epicenter."

The PTWC said waves were possible along the coasts of Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The center urged people located in threatened coastal areas to watch for information from national and local authorities.

UPDATE: 5:56 p.m. EDT—The USGS revised the strength of Tuesday's earthquake from a 7.0 magnitude to a 7.3 magnitude. Buildings were evacuated in Caracas, the Associated Press reported.

Original story:

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit near Venezuela early Tuesday evening, the United States Geological Survey confirmed. The quake hit about 30 miles from Guiria, Sucre, Venezuela, at 5:31 EDT.

People reported feeling shaking in Grenada as well as Trinidad and Tobago and other places.

It was unclear whether there was any significant damage or injuries as a result of Tuesday's quake.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.</s>Buildings in the capital Caracas have been evacuated and shaking has been felt across the Caribbean

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Venezuela’s northern coast has been rocked by a powerful earthquake that was felt across the Caribbean and sent people rushing out into the streets hundreds of kilometres away in the capital, Caracas.

The United States Geological Survey said a 7.3-magnitude earthquake had struck off the South American country’s northern coast at 5.31pm local time on Tuesday, east of the city of Carúpano at a depth of 123km (76 miles). The Colombian Geological Service said it was a 7.0-magnitude quake.

The earthquake was felt more than 600km further east in Caracas, where the crisis-stricken nation’s political leaders were celebrating a “revolutionary” new economic plan they claim will rescue Venezuela’s crumbling economy but economists fear will make it worse.

According to Associated Press, the confusing moments after the quake were captured on state television as Diosdado Cabello, one of Venezuela’s most powerful politicians, was delivering a speech at a pro-government rally. “Earthquake!” many members of the audience cried, pointing to the ground, as Cabello and others looked from side to side.

“I had never felt such a strong earthquake 😨,” tweeted María Ramírez Cabello, a Venezuelan journalist who was in Ciudad Bolívar at the time of the quake, alongside images of people running out of a supermarket.



Footage posted on social media by another Venezuelan journalist showed terrified residents racing out into the street after the quake struck.

Érika Ortega Sanoja (@ErikaOSanoja) [VIDEO] #Sismo en #CiudadTiuna, #Caracas, se sintió fortísimo. Vecinos en alerta en la planta baja. Todo en calma. pic.twitter.com/WY6jMd5gF7

Venezuela’s interior minster, Néstor Luis Reverol, tweeted: “We call on all of the people of Venezuela to remain calm.” Authorities were ready to deal with “any emergency”, he added.

In a short address to the nation Reverol added: “We want to inform you … that at 5.31 we had a 6.3 magnitude earthquake [that] was felt in various states of the country [including] Nueva Esparta, Sucre, Monagas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro, Aragua, Carabobo and the capital.”

“So far there have been no reports of any victims,” the minister said.



Venezuela’s state-run broadcaster, Telesur, also reported there were no immediate reports of victims or damage.



Facebook Twitter Pinterest Part of the abandoned skyscraper Torre de David leans precariously in Caracas after the quake. Photograph: Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images

However, photographs posted on social media showed that the “Tower of David”, a notorious and symbolic abandoned skyscraper in Caracas that featured in the television series Homeland, had been severely damaged by the quake. Buildings around the 52-floor vertical slum were reportedly being evacuated on Tuesday afternoon, according to one local journalist.



In a statement, Venezuela’s seismological research foundation (Funvisis) said it recommended “keeping calm since acts of this nature are normal in Venezuela, since we live in a seismic country”.



Edwin Rojas, the governor of Sucre, the state nearest to the epicentre, posted a video on his official Twitter in which he said he had received a phone call from the president, Nicolás Maduro, and sought to reassure citizens.

“All of the state’s 15 municipalities … felt a big impact but thank God there are no victims to mourn and no damage,” Rojas said.</s>CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A powerful earthquake has shaken eastern Venezuela, causing buildings to be evacuated in the capital of Caracas.

The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude of Tuesday’s quake at 7.0 and said it had a depth of 53 miles (87 kilometers). Its epicenter was 13 miles (22 kilometers southwest of Irapa, Venezuela.

The quake was felt as far away as Colombia’s capital and in the Venezuelan capital office workers evacuated buildings and people fled homes.</s>There has been an earthquake in Venezuela

Tremors have felt more than 200 miles away

The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake in the coastal town of Irapa and tremors were felt 286 miles (622 km) away in the capital of Caracas.

The quake, which was centred near the town of Guiria, was felt as far away as the capital, Caracas, causing buildings to be evacuated,

The USGS put the magnitude of the quake at 7.3 and said it had a depth of 76 miles (123 kilometres).

Its epicentre was 12 miles (20 kilometres) north-west of Yaguaraparo.

The population of the affected region lives in areas where structures are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, according to the USGS.

The most vulnerable buildings are those made from unreinforced brick and wood.

A tsunami advisory has been issued in the Caribbean.

Footage which emerged on social media following the earthquake showed buildings in Maturin being shaken heavily and people running into the street.

In Trinidad and Tobago, phone lines and power have been out and there have been reports of structural damage to buildings.

THIS IS A BREAKING STORY. REFRESH FOR UPDATES.</s>A major earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck the northern coast of Venezuela on Tuesday and shook buildings as far away as the capital, Caracas, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake was centred near the town of Carupano, an area of poor fishing communities and was felt as far away as neighbouring Colombia to the east and nearby island nations like Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia, to the west and north.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in an internet broadcast on Tuesday.

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Center said the quake could cause small tsunami waves along the coast near the epicentre, 23 miles (37 km) southwest of the town of Carupano.

USGS Geophysicist Jessica Turner said the quake's depth, 76.5 miles (123.11 km) below the surface, would dampen some of the shaking but not enough to prevent damage.

"A 7.3 magnitude quake is going to cause some damage particularly as in this area structures are vulnerable. The Earth is able to absorb some of the energy, but a 7.3 quake produces a lot of energy," she said by telephone.

Turner said the quake's depth caused the quake to be felt as far away such as in Caracas, where witnesses said buildings were shaken.

"I feel like I'm about to faint. I'm shaking. It was long," said telemarketing worker Sheny Fuentes, 22, speaking outside her work building in eastern Caracas.

"I'm relieved that it doesn't seem like damage was that bad. We would have been even more affected (given Venezuela's economic crisis) - there are already people eating from the garbage and buildings aren't well made," she told Reuters.</s>AN earthquake of magnitude 7.3 has struck the northern coast of Venezuela, the US Geological Survey said.

There are fears it could cause small tsunami waves along the coast near the epicentre.

The quake shook buildings as far as the capital, Caracas, witnesses said.

The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 6.7 and then 7.0 near the town of Carupano.

The quake was felt as far away as Colombia's capital of Bogota, and in Caracas where office workers and residents fled from their buildings and homes.

People took to Twitter sharing their vision from the quake.

A magnitude 7.3 quake is considered major and is capable of causing widespread, heavy damage, that will continue to be felt.

A similar magnitude earthquake occurred in the same area in 1997 and left dozes dead.</s>There has been an earthquake in Venezuela

Tremors have felt more than 200 miles away

The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake in the coastal town of Irapa and tremors were felt 286 miles (622 km) away in the capital of Caracas.

The quake, which was centred near the town of Guiria, was felt as far away as the capital, Caracas, causing buildings to be evacuated,

The USGS put the magnitude of the quake at 7.3 and said it had a depth of 76 miles (123 kilometres).

Its epicentre was 12 miles (20 kilometres) north-west of Yaguaraparo.

The population of the affected region lives in areas where structures are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, according to the USGS.

The most vulnerable buildings are those made from unreinforced brick and wood.

A tsunami advisory has been issued in the Caribbean.

Footage which emerged on social media following the earthquake showed buildings in Maturin being shaken heavily and people running into the street.

In Trinidad and Tobago, phone lines and power have been out and there have been reports of structural damage to buildings.

A witness in Cumana, which is near the epicentre, said there were initial reports of several injuries at a shopping centre as an escalator collapsed.

Firefighter captain John Boquett said there are no initial reports of injuries or major damage in the capital.

In 1997, a quake of similar magnitude in the same area left dozens dead.

THIS IS A BREAKING STORY. REFRESH FOR UPDATES.</s>Venezuela has been hit by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake which has affected the northern part of the country.

The quake had originally measured 6.7 but was later upgraded to 7.3 by the United States Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued an alert, saying that "hazardous waves" are possible 300km from the epicentre.

The earthquake centered near the town of Guiria, was felt as far away as the capital, Caracas, where it shook buildings, witnesses said.

Videos posted to social media shows dozens of people screaming and shouting as the terrifying tremors shook buildings and streets.

The scale of damage to the affected areas is not yet clear.

The epicentre is around 100km from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago's capital city.

Shaking was reported in other Caribbean islands including Grenada, an island popular with holidaymakers.

Were you involved in the earthquake? Send video to webnews@trinitymirror.com

Earleir the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Center said the quake, which was fairly deep, could cause small tsunami waves along the coast near the epicenter, 23 miles (37 km) southwest of the town of Carupano.

A magnitude 7.3 quake is considered major and is capable of causing widespread, heavy damage, but the quake was 76.5 miles (123.11 km) deep, which would have dampened the shaking.

"A 7.3 magnitude quake is going to cause some damage particularly as in this area structures are vulnerable. The Earth is able to absorb some of the energy, but a 7.3 quake produces a lot of energy", one expert said.

"I feel like I'm about to faint. I'm shaking. It was long," telemarketing worker Sheny Fuentes, 22, speaking outside her work building in eastern Caracas. "I'm relieved that it doesn't seem like damage was that bad.

"We would have been even more affected (given Venezuela's economic crisis) - there are already people eating from the garbage and buildings aren't well made," she told Reuters.

Last week a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Lombok early on Sunday morning, two weeks after the disaster which killed at least 460 people and put the island on the verge of a humanitarian crisis.

The US Geological Survey estimated the depth of that tremor to be 7.9 km (4.9 miles).</s>Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake's center was located near the town of Guiria and tremors were felt as far as the capital of Caracas, about 286 miles away.

It struck at 5:31 p.m. and had a depth of about 76.5 miles, the USGS said.

Venezuela's interior minster, Néstor Luis Reverol, wrote a tweet encouraging the people of Venezuela to remain calm, adding there hadn't been reports of any victims.

He also shared photos of the abandoned financial center, known as the Tower of David, in Caracas was damaged, causing the top five floors to slant on a 25-degree incline.

The surrounding areas were evacuated as a precaution, Reverol said.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes off the coast of Venezuela, prompting building evacuations in Caracas. Buildings shake across Caribbean and South America's North coast. Several buildings are destroyed.