Key facts
- A 4.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the northern coast of Venezuela on Friday.
- The tremor was felt in Caracas and Maracay.
- This follows a series of powerful earthquakes that struck northwestern Venezuela earlier in the week.
- The strongest of the earlier quakes measured 6.3 magnitude with epicenters near Mene Grande in Zulia state.
- No immediate reports of casualties or major damage have been issued for the latest earthquake.
A new earthquake with a magnitude of 4.9 struck off the northern coast of Venezuela on Friday afternoon, days after a series of powerful earthquakes hit the region. Reuters witnesses in Caracas and Maracay felt the tremor.
The latest quake follows a period of significant seismic activity, including four powerful earthquakes that struck northwestern Venezuela on Wednesday and early Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The strongest of these registered between 6.1 and 6.3 magnitude, with epicenters near the town of Mene Grande in Zulia state, approximately 600 km west of Caracas. Tremors from these earlier quakes were felt across Venezuela and in neighboring Colombia, leading to the evacuation of buildings along the border.
While the recent seismic events have caused concern, no damage or casualties have been reported so far from the 4.9 magnitude quake on Friday. The USGS had issued a yellow warning for potential fatalities and economic losses from the strongest of the earlier quakes, highlighting the risk associated with shallow-depth earthquakes, which are more powerful than those at greater depths. Venezuela is situated near fault lines between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, placing about 80 percent of its population in active seismic zones. The country has a history of significant earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.2 quake off its northern coast in 2018 that caused over 400 deaths.