Two strong earthquakes occurred west of Venezuela's capital Caracas on the afternoon of June 24, collapsing buildings in Caracas and causing scientists to estimate "high casualties and widespread damage" to this South American nation.
The magnitude 7.2 earthquake (higher than initial calculations of 7.1 degrees) occurred about 160km west of Caracas and another magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred less than a minute later, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
High casualties and widespread damage are possible and disasters are likely to spread," USGS said, with initial estimates of deaths possibly from 10,000 to 100,000 people.
Venezuelan officials have not given immediate estimates of the number of deaths or injuries. "Some buildings have collapsed (in Caracas), houses have collapsed" - Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello shared on state television.
The video shows rescuers climbing into the rubble of a collapsed building in the capital as night falls.
Many Venezuelans were at home when the earthquake occurred right on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1821 military victory, the event of Venezuela gaining independence from Spain.
Venezuela is located in a highly active earthquake phenomenon area, where the Caribe phenomenon clashes with the South American phenomenon. The country's capital was shaken by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 1967.
The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning for Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands after the earthquake, adding that islands off the coast of Venezuela - Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire - may also record dangerous waves. The warning was withdrawn within about an hour after the earthquake occurred.
