A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.1 shook the central coast of Venezuela, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS reported an almost immediate aftershock to the first earthquake, although more powerful, of magnitude 7.5, also in Morón.
The extent of the damage caused by the earthquake is not yet known, although images coming from Caracas show some collapsed buildings and others with significant damage, according to BBC News Mundo.
The earthquake occurred at 6:04 p.m. local time near the town of Morón, in the state of Carabobo, about 200 km west of Caracas.
The tremor forced the evacuation of numerous buildings in the capital. A witness reported that cracks appeared in his apartment and that the windows shattered, according to Reuters.
Tsunami alerts have been issued for Venezuela, Aruba and Bonaire, as well as warnings for Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, according to the United States Tsunami Warning System.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told local media that houses and buildings collapsed due to the earthquake, adding that "all security and assistance agencies, civil protection, volunteers, firefighters, police, all are deployed.".
Cabello urged all residents of Carcass to evacuate buildings to stay safe in case of aftershocks.
"We recommend that they be out on the streets in complete calm," he said.
Cabello told state channel VTV that the earthquake was felt in states such as Trujillo, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Miranda, La Guaira and Caracas.
Regarding the capital, he reported that "there are several complicated areas" in the east of the city, such as Los Palos Grandes or Altamira, where "there are alarming situations, houses and homes have collapsed.".
The direct natural gas service, which supplies thousands of homes in Venezuelan cities, was interrupted as a precautionary measure to avoid "any kind of accident," the minister said.
