Venezuela’s Powerful Earthquakes Were a Rare ‘Seismic Doublet’
Key takeaways
- The US Geological Survey reported that both earthquakes had their epicenters northwest of the town of Yumare, near the city of Morón and about 160 kilometers (99 miles) west of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.
- The sequence was classified as a severe seismic doublet, a phenomenon that occurs when two earthquakes of similar magnitude strike almost simultaneously in nearby areas.
- One of the most significant seismic doublets in recent history occurred about three years ago in Turkey and Syria, when a 7.6-magnitude earthquake was followed by a 7.8-magnitude one.
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
People in front of damaged houses following a pair of earthquakes in Venezuela.Photograph: Federico PARRA / AFP via Getty Images Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Venezuela declared a national emergency following two earthquakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude that occurred just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday. This phenomenon, known as a seismic doublet, is rare.
However, there are documented cases in various regions of the world that continue to be studied to expand our understanding of the mechanisms of stress is transferred within the Earth’s crust and the interaction between geological faults.
The US Geological Survey reported that both earthquakes had their epicenters northwest of the town of Yumare, near the city of Morón and about 160 kilometers (99 miles) west of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. The quakes occurred at depths of 20.3 and 10 kilometers and were felt across much of northern Venezuela and in several Caribbean countries.