Two Powerful 7.0 Earthquakes Strike Venezuela in Succession, Death Toll Could Reach 100,000

[Financial News] A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on the 24th (local time). A U.S. monitoring agency warned that the death toll could rise to as many as 100,000.
BBC and other foreign media outlets, citing the United States Geological Survey (USGS), reported that a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit about 160 kilometers west of Caracas in the afternoon. About 30 seconds later, a second powerful quake struck the area. The epicenter was reported to be 13 kilometers underground near Montalbán, Venezuela.
Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said through state media that tremors from the quake were felt in several states. He added that a "concerning situation" had occurred in Altamira, Caracas, where houses and buildings collapsed.
The extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed. The USGS said there was a high likelihood of "massive casualties and widespread property damage," and projected that the death toll could range from at least 10,000 to as many as 100,000.
Tsunami threat warnings were issued for neighboring Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. The United States Tsunami Warning System also warned that dangerous tsunami waves could hit island areas near Venezuela's coast, including Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire.
pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter