Caracas: A Venezuela earthquake aftershock of magnitude 4.8struck near northern Aragua state on Saturday as rescuers searched for survivors from twin quakes that killed at least 1,430 people.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre said the latest quake hit at 3:20 pm local time on Sunday, near Venezuela’s northern coast.
Earlier, two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 hit Venezuela on Wednesday. Al Jazeera reported that rescuers searched collapsed buildings in La Guaira and parts of Caracas.
EFE cited National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez as saying 1,430 people had died. He also reported thousands of injuries and affected families.
Meanwhile, the latest tremor struck about 70 kilometres west of Caracas. Authorities reported no immediate damage from Saturday’s aftershock.
Separately, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday. AP said the epicentre lay in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.
Read: Venezuela Earthquakes Kill 235, Trap 200 Near Caracas
Tremors were felt in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan’s seismic authorities measured the quake at a depth of 178 kilometres.
However, officials reported no immediate casualties or damage from the Pakistan-Afghanistan quake.
Balochistan also recorded separate tremors earlier on Saturday. The officials reported three injuries after quakes hit Barkhan, Kohlu, Musakhail and nearby areas.
Seismologists say earthquakes that occur close together in time do not necessarily share a physical link. The Venezuela, Pakistan-Afghanistan, Japan and California events occurred on separate fault systems.
