Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes just 39 seconds apart after 6 pm local time on Wednesday evening. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the first tremor was of 7.2 magnitude, soon after which the second tremor of 7.5 magnitude was recorded. In seismology it is called ‘Doublet Earthquake’.
normal earthquake vs doublet
A major main earthquake is usually followed by smaller aftershocks. But in ‘doublet’, two big earthquakes of almost equal intensity occur at an interval of very short time and very short distance.
why did this happen
Scientists believe that due to the first earthquake (center: San Felipe), the pressure on the faults of the tectonic plates increased so much that a second major earthquake immediately occurred on the second fault (center: Yumare) just 5 to 10 kilometers away. Earlier in the year 2023, a similar doublet earthquake was seen in Turkey and Syria.
Why do so many disasters happen in Venezuela?
The region of northern Venezuela is extremely sensitive geologically. This area is located on the boundary of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. These plates slide parallel to each other at a rate of about 20 millimeters per year, creating large and active strike-slip fault systems such as Bocono and San Sebastián. This is the reason why there is a possibility of frequent and destructive earthquakes here.
At present, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez herself, along with her army and international rescue teams, is monitoring the work of evacuating people buried under the debris and distributing relief materials. In such a situation, India’s prompt assistance has come as a big hope for the people there.
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