Magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocks Venezuela as buildings shake in Caracas

Image source, AFP via Getty Images By Claire Keenan Published A strong earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday, near the capital Caracas, with witnesses reporting tremors in Colombia as well. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the area of Montalbán at a depth of 13.2km at 18:04 local time (23:04 BST), according to the US Geological Survey (USGC). Venezuela's interior minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed that buildings were down in Caracas while talking on State TV, Reuters reported. Tsunami threats have been issued for Venezuela, Aruba and Bonaire, with advisory threats issued to Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, according to the US Tsunami Warning System. People in Caracas were quick to evacuate during the earthquake, with one witness reporting that cracks appeared in their apartment and glass shattered, Reuters reported. One photograph taken by an Agence France-Presse journalist shows a building, believed to be a bank in Caracas, in ruins. Residents in neighbouring Colombia are reported to have felt the earthquake in the capital of Bogota, where some people were evacuated as a precaution. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App . You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X , external to get the latest alerts. Related topics Earthquakes Venezuela