On Wednesday afternoon, a high-magnitude earthquake was registered in the region of Venezuela, leaving a large part of the ABC islands feeling the confirmation of this natural force. Citizens reacted with shock on social media after feeling the shaking around 6:04 PM.
According to initial data shared by the Earthquake Alerts System, the earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.0. The epicenter was located in the northern region of Venezuela, an approximate distance of 175.8 miles (roughly 283 kilometers) from Aruba.
Immediate Reaction in Aruba
Here in Aruba, the impact was felt across different districts. Residents, particularly in Noord, reported feeling the ground move, where in many homes, structural fixtures or objects began to visibly shake.
Maps from the alert system clearly show how the waves spread out from the central impact zone in the Caracas/Venezuela area toward the operational part of the Caribbean Sea, directly affecting the islands situated to the east. In Venezuela, it was understood that some buildings in the downtown area even collapsed.