Iran Press / Americas : 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 Car?pano at a depth of 123km . 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 nation’s political leaders were celebrating a new economic plan they claim will rescue Venezuela’s crumbling economy, but some economists fear will make it worse.
Video footage posted on social media by a Venezuelan journalist showed terrified residents racing out into the street after the quake struck.
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, Bol?var, Delta Amacuro, Aragua, Carabobo and the capital.”
He added: “So far there have been no reports of any victims”.
Venezuela’s state-run broadcaster, Telesur, also reported there were no immediate reports of victims or damage.
Photographs posted on social media showed that the “Tower of David” , a notorious and symbolic abandoned skyscraper in Caracas , had been severely damaged by the earthquake. Buildings around the 52-floor skyscraper were reportedly being evacuated on Tuesday afternoon, according to reports by local journalists.
