Venezuela earthquakes live updates: buildings collapse in Caracas as officials warn ‘high casualties’ likely

Two powerful earthquakes – with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 – sent residents running into the streets as buildings shook and collapsed

• Venezuela earthquake: powerful back-to-back quakes collapse buildings in capital Caracas

Back-to-back powerful earthquakes hammered Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas.

The US Geological Survey said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 and its epicentre was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168km (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 13km (8 miles).