Caracas Resident Recalls Terror of Twin Earthquakes in Venezuela

Darwin, 26 June : One of the areas hardest hit by the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela was La California, a district in the capital, Caracas. The tremors were so intense that resident Yunice Arias says she is still shaken by the experience.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on Thursday (June 25), Arias said she was working at a money exchange office in the area when the first earthquake struck on Wednesday evening.

“We were working as usual yesterday,” she said. “When the earthquake hit La California, I went outside. I can’t even describe how terrifying it was. The entire building was shaking. You could hear the building’s columns cracking. Honestly, it was extremely frightening.”

Arias said she had previously experienced an earthquake in Los Teques last year, but that event was nowhere near as severe.

“I experienced an earthquake in Los Teques last year, but it was nothing like this,” she said. “On top of that, there were two earthquakes yesterday. The second one was even worse. I felt as if the building was going to collapse.”

She said she had just returned to her apartment after the first earthquake when the second tremor struck, creating an even more alarming situation.

“I had only just entered my apartment when the second earthquake hit,” Arias said. “The lights started falling from the ceiling. The television fell over, and the water tanks were shaking so violently that water was spilling everywhere. The whole experience was indescribable. It was truly terrifying.”