By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening killing 32 people and injuring 700 others prompting authorities to declare emergency in the country.
The toll is expected to rise sharply, top officials said.
First earthquake measuring 7.2 struck around 0334 hours (IST). A minute later, another temblor measuring 7.5 hit at 0335 hours (IST). The epicentres both the quakes were near Yumare.
Residents rushed out of homes, offices and commercial establishments as buildings swayed during the tremor. The quake was felt across a wide area, with reports of shaking emerging from several cities. Emergency services were quickly mobilised to inspect infrastructure and ensure public safety.
Authorities said preliminary assessments indicated umpteen structural damages to buildings. Local disaster management agencies urged residents to remain vigilant as aftershocks could not be ruled out. Social media platforms were flooded with videos showing people running in panic moments after the earthquake struck.
Meanwhile, Japan, one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, was also shaken by a strong tremor measuring 6.9 around 0400 hours on early Thursday. The earthquake was felt in multiple prefectures, prompting brief disruptions to transportation services. Train operators temporarily halted some services as a precaution while engineers carried out safety inspections.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency monitored the situation closely and issued advisories to residents in affected areas. No tsunami warning was issued, easing fears in coastal communities. Authorities reported that the country’s stringent earthquake-resistant infrastructure helped minimise the impact of the tremor.