'I saw the windows moving' - Venezuelans describe panic as tremors hit; reports detail damage and emotional distress.

Two earthquakes struck Caracas on Wednesday, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, causing widespread panic and emotional distress among residents. Many described the terrifying moment, with one saying, 'I saw the windows moving, and the only thing I could think to do was to get between the front door and a stone wall...'

An hour after the tremors, people remained outside, fearing aftershocks. A local journalist noted, 'An hour after the quake, everyone is still outside waiting for safety in case there's an aftershock.' The earthquakes particularly affected Palos Grandes, a central district in Caracas, where residents faced significant damage.²

Reports indicated fallen utility poles and widespread power outages, with one resident stating, 'There are fallen utility poles [outside], we have no electricity, no signal.' Emotional distress was palpable, as many felt powerless to rescue their pets. Kolster remarked, 'There are people who are very sad, powerless because they couldn't get their pets out.' This earthquake has drawn comparisons to a devastating 1967 quake that killed over 200 people, with one resident claiming, 'This earthquake was horrible, even worse than the one in 1967.'³⁴⁵