Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating double earthquake that has claimed 164 lives and injured nearly a thousand people. Simultaneously, seismic activity has affected the other side of the globe, with a powerful earthquake striking off the coast of Japan's Iwate Prefecture, resulting in four injuries and transportation disruptions. Officials in both nations have issued warnings of imminent aftershocks. Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced the updated casualty figures, stating that 164 people were killed and 971 were injured by the two earthquakes that struck the country. She confirmed during a press conference that search and rescue operations are ongoing and expressed concern that the death toll could rise in the coming hours. Initial reports had indicated 32 fatalities and over 700 injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that two consecutive earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart. These seismic events caused buildings to collapse in several areas of the capital, Caracas, and in the states of Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón. In Japan, four individuals were injured and some high-speed train services were disrupted following an earthquake off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in the Pacific Ocean. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the earthquake occurred at a depth of 44 kilometers and stated there was no tsunami risk. The agency characterized the quake's intensity as making standing or moving difficult without crawling, with unsecured furniture moving and objects falling from shelves. Residents have been cautioned about the possibility of further tremors within the next week. The agency initially reported the earthquake's magnitude at 6.9 with a depth of 50 kilometers, later revising these estimates. |
