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2 powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela

Rebecca Falconer

Rubble from a collapsed building on a slope with rescue workers in orange vests and helmets and police scanning the debris; trees and urban buildings visible in the background. — Rescuers search for victims in a collapsed building following an earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday. Photo: Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, damaging buildings in the capital, Caracas.

The big picture: The U.S. Geological Survey issued a red alert for "shaking-related fatalities and economic losses," warning that "high casualties and extensive damage" were probable after a magnitude 7.2 quake and seconds later a 7.5 tremor struck just over 100 miles west of Caracas.

Zoom in: The epicenter was recorded near Morón, a town along Venezuela's Caribbean coast.

Officials reported extensive damage across Caracas.
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas said on X it was "closely monitoring" the situation and urged people to avoid damaged areas.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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2 powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela

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