NYT: Venezuela quake strongest in 126 years

The powerful earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24 was the strongest recorded in the country since 1900, according to The New York Times.

The newspaper reported that the 1900 earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.7 and killed 21 people in Caracas, injuring 50 others and destroying hundreds of buildings.

The latest disaster involved two major tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, with epicentres located about 10 kilometres apart in Venezuela's Yaracuy state.

According to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, at least 32 people were killed, around 700 were injured, and dozens of buildings were destroyed.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov