Three major earthquakes struck three different countries within hours on Thursday, causing significant damage and triggering tsunami warnings. The first quake, a 5.6 magnitude tremor, hit the north coast of California just after 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday. It was followed by the largest of the three, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the north coast of Venezuela just after 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday. About half an hour later, Japan was hit with a 6.9 magnitude quake at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time on Thursday.
Tsunami Threat After Venezuela Quake
In Venezuela, buildings collapsed in the capital, Caracas, nearly 170 kilometers from the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Moron, on the Caribbean coast. The first quake, which struck at a depth of 21 kilometers, was followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake at a depth of 10 kilometers less than two minutes later, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello described the situation as “alarming” and urged people to remain outside in case aftershocks further damaged structures. Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts within 300 kilometers of the earthquake epicenter, the US Tsunami Warning Centre said. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands both fall within that radius. Some of Venezuela’s largest refineries are also located in Montalbán, just 28 kilometers northwest of the epicenter.
Commuters Rattled in Tokyo
There is no danger of tsunami in Japan, where the 6.9 magnitude tremor hit off the coast of Iwate in the nation’s north. The quake struck at a depth of 51 kilometers, the USGS said. Tremors were felt seven hours south in Tokyo, where mild shaking rattled commuters during the Thursday morning peak hour rush. Japan’s longest bullet train line, the Tohoku Shinkansen, also halted operations, according to Japan Safe Travel. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or damages. Japan sits on the boundary of several tectonic plates, known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone areas.
Californian Quake the Strongest Since 1940
The 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit a rural area in northern California is the strongest tremor that the coastal agricultural region has recorded since 1940. Three other quakes under magnitude 2.7 struck near the epicenter within an hour of the major quake. Supermarket goods were shaken loose from shelves and smashed in the aisles of Redwood Valley Market. Brie Leon, an employee of the Club Calpella Restaurant five minutes south, had just flicked on the open sign when she felt the quake. “It almost felt like something hit the building,” she said.
