A 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Venezuela’s northern coast on Friday, just days after two powerful quakes devastated the country, killing at least 920 people and causing widespread destruction in parts of the capital, Caracas.
The latest earthquake in Venezuela struck 61 kilometres (36 miles) northwest of Maracay in the country’s north, according to the earthquake monitoring organisation EMSC, reports Al Jazeera.
In a post on social media, EMSC said the tremor occurred on Friday. Further details have yet to be released, but Reuters, citing local witnesses, reported that the earthquake was felt in both Maracay and the capital, Caracas.
The South American nation is still recovering from two powerful earthquakes that struck on Wednesday. One measured 7.2 and the other 7.5 on the nine-point Richter scale.
The death toll is expected to rise sharply, with the US Geological Survey estimating that the number of fatalities could exceed 10,000.
Authorities have reported at least 3,360 people injured, while more than 172 people remain trapped beneath collapsed buildings. According to the Venezuelan government, the number of missing people has now surpassed 50,000.
On Friday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced that access to some of the worst-affected areas in the state of La Guaira would be restricted.
Across the affected regions, residents have mobilised to collect emergency supplies and search for survivors. Some have even turned their own vehicles into makeshift ambulances to assist the injured.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government has eased restrictions on social media platforms, including X, which had been blocked following the disputed 2024 presidential election.
The move has enabled communities to share information about missing relatives and coordinate rescue efforts.
“It’s the community that has managed to get people out alive,” said 25-year-old Jennifer Palacios, whose six-year-old son is buried beneath the rubble along with five relatives. “We need them to bring cranes to move the slabs. There are still people trapped.”
