32 killed, 700 injured in Venezuela earthquake - photo

In Venezuela, 32 people were killed and another 700 injured as a result of a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

Acting President of the country Delcy Rodriguez reported this.

Previously, a state of emergency was declared in Venezuela. According to Reuters, the tremors caused damage to infrastructure, which led to the closure of Caracas international airport.

On Wednesday evening, two strong tremors with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurred west of the Venezuelan capital. As a result, buildings collapsed in Caracas, and experts predict a large number of victims.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the second earthquake occurred less than a minute after the first.

"Large casualties and extensive damage are likely, and the disaster is likely to be widespread," the United States Geological Survey said, noting that preliminary estimates put the death toll between 10,000 and 100,000 people.

"Some buildings collapsed in Caracas," Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television, Reuters reported.

Many Venezuelans were at home during the earthquake - that day the country celebrated the anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo (1821), when Simon Bolivar's army defeated the Spanish troops and secured Venezuela's independence.

Source: BBC