Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24, according to Reuters. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said the disaster killed at least 32 people and left about 700 others injured.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the total number of affected people could reach 10,000. The tremors were recorded at about 6:00 p.m. local time, or 1:00 a.m. Moscow time on June 25. They struck 39 seconds apart.
The epicenters were located near the city of Moron in Carabobo state, about 160 kilometers west of Caracas. The focus of the stronger quake was at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The shaking was felt in the capital and in several other states. Dozens of buildings were damaged across the country. Caracas international airport, Maiquetia, was closed, and metro and rail services in the capital were suspended.
Rodriguez said La Guaira state on Venezuela’s Caribbean coast was hit hardest. After the earthquakes, the authorities declared a state of emergency nationwide and designated La Guaira a disaster zone.
Classes are being canceled across Venezuela, and some state and commercial institutions have temporarily halted operations. People who lost their homes are being housed in hotels and temporary shelters.