Powerful Earthquake Rattles Northwest Venezuela
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck northwest Venezuela, with its epicenter located near Mene Grande in Zulia state. Although felt in several regions and neighboring Colombia, no immediate damage was reported. State television continued uninterrupted, and later, lesser magnitude quakes were reported in Zulia and Barinas states.
- Country:
- Venezuela
A significant earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale shook northwest Venezuela on Wednesday, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
The quake's epicenter was pinpointed just 15 miles from Mene Grande in Zulia state, located over 370 miles from Caracas. The tremors were felt across various states and even reached neighboring Colombia, prompting many to evacuate buildings near the border. Thankfully, no immediate damage was reported on either side.
Despite the quake, Venezuelan state television maintained its scheduled programming, featuring a science segment presented by President Nicolás Maduro. Later, Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez announced on Telegram that additional earthquakes of magnitudes 3.9 and 5.4 were recorded, although he omitted reference to the USGS-reported quake. With Mene Grande near Lake Maracaibo, pivotal for oil, the area underscores Venezuela's status as holding the planet's largest oil reserves.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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