‘The floor under me was shaking’: American tourist recounts escaping death in Venezuela quakes
American Tourist's Heart-Pounding Escape During Venezuela Earthquake
The floor under me was shaking - When the first of two devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, American tourist Jason Wang described the moment the ground beneath him began to tremble. "The floor under me was shaking," he recounted to ABC News, as he was on a mountaintop outside Caracas, preparing to board a cable car for the descent. The 7.1 magnitude quake, followed 39 seconds later by a more powerful 7.5 magnitude tremor, caused widespread chaos in the coastal region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
A Moment of Chaos and Survival
High on El Ávila mountain, approximately 7 miles from the capital, Wang was caught in the aftermath of the disaster. "We were just rushing for the door to exit the building, and none of us knew what was going on until a few minutes afterwards," he said. The tremors, which were felt across parts of Colombia, left the city of Caracas in a state of panic, with residents scrambling to safety. Wang's experience highlights the sudden and terrifying impact of the quakes, which were reported as the strongest in Venezuela in over a century.
Impact on Caracas and the Region
As the earth shook violently, Wang captured the moment on video, showing the building he was in as it swayed and cracked. "The floor under me was shaking, and then all of a sudden everyone started panicking," he said. The footage, shared online, revealed the chaos unfolding in real time. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to locate survivors, while thousands of people were left stranded in the streets. The twin tremors not only caused structural damage but also raised concerns about the long-term consequences for the region.
Residents in Catia La Mar, a city 30 km northwest of Caracas, searched through rubble for trapped individuals. The scenes of destruction were stark, with buildings reduced to heaps of concrete and furniture scattered across the streets. "It's like a horror movie," Wang remarked, describing the surreal atmosphere as people navigated the aftermath of the quake. His journey back to Caracas, however, was fraught with obstacles, including toppled trees blocking the road. Despite the danger, he managed to secure a ride to his hotel, where he finally regained contact with loved ones.
Government Response and Casualty Estimates
Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed that at least 188 people had died in the quakes, with nearly 1,520 injured. However, the death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. The USGS warned of a potential risk for over 10,000 fatalities, underscoring the severity of the situation. President Donald Trump expressed concern about the "devastating number of deaths," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the deployment of U.S. rescue teams to assist in the recovery efforts.
As the quakes rattled the region, the focus keyword "The floor under me was shaking" became a recurring phrase in Wang's account, emphasizing the visceral experience of the disaster. His story, shared across social media, provided a personal glimpse into the chaos that gripped Caracas. The event has since sparked discussions about Venezuela's vulnerability to seismic activity, with experts noting the potential for further aftershocks to complicate the recovery process.
Amid the devastation, the resilience of the people shone through. While the quakes left countless lives disrupted, the efforts of emergency responders and the determination of survivors like Wang offer a glimmer of hope. The focus keyword, "The floor under me was shaking," encapsulates the moment of realization that defined the experience for many, including the American tourist who narrowly escaped tragedy in the coastal region.