Venezuela has declared a national emergency following two powerful earthquakes that struck almost simultaneously on Wednesday. The quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurred just 39 seconds apart near the city of Morón, northwest of Yumare, and about 160 kilometers west of Caracas.

The phenomenon, known as a seismic doublet, is rare but not unheard of. The US Geological Survey reported that both earthquakes had their epicenters in close proximity to each other, and the sequence was classified as severe. While such events are uncommon, they offer valuable insights into how stress is transferred within the Earth’s crust.

Experts believe a similar process may have occurred in Venezuela. Professor Mark Allen from Durham University explains that it is likely the first earthquake caused a segment of the fault to rupture and transfer stress to another fault, triggering the second earthquake. The events took place at the plate boundary between South America and the Caribbean, where the plates move laterally relative to one another.

This type of movement often causes significant damage because it originates at relatively shallow depths. Unlike subduction earthquakes, strike-slip earthquakes tend to occur closer to the Earth’s surface, increasing the intensity of tremors felt in populated areas. This forecast aligns with estimates from the USGS, which notes that seismic activity can continue for days, weeks or even longer following such events.

Official reports indicate that so far, the two earthquakes have claimed at least 164 lives and left nearly 1,000 injured in Venezuela. The USGS estimates that the final death toll could range as high as 10,000 to 100,000 due to various factors related to the intensity of the quakes and the vulnerability, including construction quality and population density.