A 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook Venezuela on Wednesday evening, swaying buildings and homes in the capital of Caracas.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake's epicenter was located about 17 miles (28 kilometers) west of the community of Moron, located along the country's Caribbean coast, about 104 miles from Caracas.

The quake had a depth of 13 kilometers.

USGS data earlier reported that the magnitude of the quake was 7.1.

Then, 39 seconds after the first quake, a second, even larger earthquake measuring 7.5 in magnitude hit the same area. 

This quake had a depth of 10 kilometers.

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Video footage shows extensive damage

Video footage showed emergency workers climbing into the ruins of one collapsed building in the capital as night began to fall.

Many Venezuelans were at home when the quake hit, celebrating a public holiday commemorating an 1821 military victory which secured Venezuela's independence from Spain.

Residents in the capital, which was rocked by a deadly earthquake in 1967, rushed to evacuate as the quake shook buildings.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for Virgin Islands. Authorities in the Dominican Republic also issued one for the island. Another alert for Puerto Rico was quickly lifted.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar

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