Venezuela hit by magnitude 7.1 earthquake, aftershocks cause panic and evacuations

(CNA Caracas, Aug. 24, Comprehensive Foreign News) A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Venezuela today, according to the United States Geological Survey. AFP reporters said the tremors caused panic among residents in the capital, Caracas. Venezuela has ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located 21 kilometers east of the coastal town of Moron and occurred at 22:04 GMT (6:04 AM Taipei time today) at a depth of 10 kilometers.

AFP reporters on the scene witnessed screams of panic inside a shopping mall in Caracas, with people rushing out of the building and gathering in the streets, before gradually returning to their offices and homes.

Several aftershocks followed the strong earthquake in Venezuela, and were felt as far away as Bogota, the capital of Colombia, where alarms sounded and some residents were evacuated outdoors for safety.

The Venezuelan National Risk Management System (UNGRD) has ruled out the possibility of a subsequent tsunami. (Compiled by: Hsu Rui-cheng) 1150625

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