Two major earthquakes rattled central Venezuela on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey, which warned that a widespread disaster, including many casualties and extensive damage, was likely.
Residents of the beleaguered South American country said that the temblors felt especially strong, shaking buildings and knocking out electricity in parts of the country, including the capital, Caracas. Images posted on social media showed some buildings reduced to ruins. It was not immediately clear if there were any deaths.
Venezuela has some of the largest oil reserves in the world — but an oil industry that has been in decline because of outdated infrastructure and U.S. sanctions. The country also bears the burden of triple-digit inflation. And in January, the U.S. military seized the country’s previous leader, Nicolás Maduro.
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