Venezuela earthquake, Japan earthquake, California earthquake (Image credit: X)
Three powerful earthquakes struck different parts of the world within hours on Thursday, with twin earthquakes striking Venezuela, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shaking northeastern Japan and a 5.6-magnitude earthquake hitting northern California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
While the cluster of seismic events has raised questions about whether they are related to each other, experts say the quakes are not related.
The strongest impact was reported in Venezuela, where the US Geological Survey recorded successive 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes within seconds. The strong tremors sparked widespread panic across the country, demolishing several buildings in the capital, Caracas, cracking roads and forcing residents into the streets as emergency teams rushed to the affected areas.
The mayor of the Chacao district in Caracas confirmed that the earthquakes caused deaths, although the exact death toll was not announced. Rescue operations are still continuing, and authorities have warned that the number of victims may rise as search efforts progress.The Venezuelan presidency said that about 20 aftershocks were recorded following the twin earthquakes. The US tsunami warning system also issued a tsunami threat in parts of the Caribbean, while officials continued to monitor changes in sea level and advised coastal residents to remain alert.
In Japan, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast, according to the US Geological Survey. Authorities said no tsunami warning was issued, no casualties were immediately reported and no violations were found at the nuclear facilities.
The Japanese government has formed an emergency team to collect information from the affected Tohoku region and prepare for disaster relief operations. The epicenter of the earthquake was located off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, at a depth of about 50 kilometers.
The strongest tremors were recorded in Aomori Prefecture, where their intensity reached over 6 on Japan’s seven-point seismic scale, making it difficult for people to stay standing.Tohoku Electric Power said no anomalies were found at the decommissioned Onagawa and Higashidori nuclear power plants, while the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported no problems at nearby nuclear facilities. The East Japan Railway temporarily suspended parts of the Tohoku Shinkansen and other train services, and closed some expressways for inspections.In the United States, the US Geological Survey reported a 5.6-magnitude earthquake in northern California. The earthquake occurred about 11 kilometers north of Redwood Valley, at a depth of 8.1 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of damage, while California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said it was coordinating with emergency officials and assessing potential impacts.
Three large earthquakes occurring on the same day have raised questions about whether one event triggered another.Speaking to CNN, Caltech seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones said the quakes occurred on separate fault systems and plate boundaries, meaning one did not trigger the others. She said large earthquakes thousands of miles apart generally do not increase the likelihood of another large quake occurring elsewhere.According to CNN, while the timing may seem unusual, the locations are not. Each earthquake struck known active plate boundaries, where pressure has been building for decades or even centuries.
In these regions, large earthquakes are an expected part of the Earth’s natural cycle, although accurately predicting when they will occur remains impossible.Japan is among the world’s most seismically active countries, experiencing about one-fifth of all earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater. In 2011, the country was hit by a 9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster.