Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, prompting the interim leader to declare a state of emergency. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit just 39 seconds apart.
Venezuela declared a national emergency after the pair of earthquakes hit the country less than a minute apart. Officials described the event as a rare seismic doublet, where stress transferred from one section of a fault to another.
The interim leader announced the state of emergency on Wednesday following the shocks. Thousands of Venezuelans are feared dead in the aftermath.
The quakes occurred on Wednesday evening, according to reports from the scene.
