A strong earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck southwestern Venezuela on Thursday morning, prompting widespread panic as residents fled homes and offices. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor occurred at 6:39 AM Indian Standard Time, with its epicenter located 24 km northeast of Menegrande in the state of Julia, at a depth of 7.8 km, over 600 km west of Caracas. The earthquake caused significant structural damage in several areas and was felt across multiple Venezuelan states as well as neighboring Colombia.
The USGS reported that tremors were also detected in parts of Caracas, although the epicenter region, Menegrande, is sparsely populated. The area is notable for being a central hub of Venezuela’s oil industry. While the earthquake has caused considerable alarm among residents, authorities have yet to provide official details on property damage or casualties resulting from the event.