A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck north-central Venezuela on Wednesday, triggering panic in Caracas and other cities as preliminary reports of structural damage and injuries began to emerge.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake happened at 6:04 p.m. local time, with the epicenter off Venezuela’s central coast.

According to preliminary data, the quake was shallow, the kind typically felt more intensely and carrying greater potential for surface damage.

The epicenter was located near several towns in Yaracuy state. The closest city was Montalbán, about 17 miles southeast of the point of origin. Other cities near the affected area include San Felipe, Yumare, Nirgua and Miranda.

The earthquake’s track was across a wide swath of the country, including Caracas, where many people reported intense shaking that forced evacuations from apartment buildings, offices and shopping centers.

Videos circulating on social media showed people rushing out of buildings in the capital, while some users reported partial collapses and damage to structures. So far, authorities have not released an official assessment of the damage in Caracas.

The powerful tremor terrified Caracas residents inside their homes.

Adriana Meneses Ímber, who was in La Floresta, in eastern Caracas, said she first noticed the lights flickering before feeling a slight movement that within seconds turned into violent shaking.

“I had never experienced anything like it, and I lived through the 1967 earthquake as a child, but this was stronger,” Meneses told el Nuevo Herald. “We started hearing the sound of objects in the house falling, glass breaking. I got under the table. It felt like it lasted two or three minutes, with incredible intensity.”

After the main quake, Meneses left her home with others and remained outside on the street with neighbors, fearing additional tremors. She said she felt at least two aftershocks. She also noted that reports of damage began circulating in other parts of eastern Caracas, including broken windows in buildings in Los Palos Grandes and the partial collapse of a wall in a building in Altamira.

The quake was also felt in Barquisimeto, in Lara state.

Katherine Guaramaco described the experience as one of the most intense of her life.

“It was quite strong. I had never felt an earthquake so loud,” she said.

“It wasn’t just that the shaking was very strong, but there was also a sound that echoed,” she added. In her two-story home, lamps and other objects began swaying violently. “Everything moved, and my house is stable,” she said.

Elena González, a resident of eastern Caracas, was inside her apartment with her mother, who is in her 90s. She said the power began to fail just as the earthquake started.

“I was in the bedroom with my mother, and the lights kept going off and coming back on. The moment I felt the earthquake, I hugged my mother and told her, ‘If we die, we die together,’ “ she said in an interview. Neighbors knocked on her door to help her leave with her mother. Both remained outside the building with other residents while feeling at least three aftershocks

In Guatire, in Miranda state, preliminary reports indicate that several people were injured, though the severity of the injuries and the exact number of those affected remain unclear.

The quake was also strongly felt in other central and western states, where residents described prolonged shaking that lasted several seconds.

The Venezuelan Seismological Research Foundation, the country’s official monitoring agency, has not yet released a final report on the magnitude, depth and exact location of the earthquake.

Venezuelan authorities typically activate emergency assessment and response protocols following major seismic events, including inspections of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, bridges, highways and electrical systems.

Venezuela lies in a zone of high seismic activity due to the interaction between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. Historically, the country has experienced destructive earthquakes, including the 1967 Caracas earthquake, which killed hundreds and caused severe damage in the capital.

Emergency crews continue to assess the situation in different parts of the country, while authorities are expected to provide a clearer picture in the coming hours regarding material damage, injuries and possible fatalities.

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