6.2-magnitude earthquake hits northwest Venezuela

CARACAS Venezuela AP A -magnitude earthquake jolted northwest Venezuela on Wednesday the U S Geological Survey declared The agency declared the epicenter was miles kilometers east-northeast of the society of Mene Grande in Zulia state more than miles kilometers west of the capital Caracas It revealed the earthquake had a depth of miles kilometers People felt the earthquake in several states and in neighboring Colombia A multitude of evacuated residential and office buildings in areas near the territory line No damages were straightaway revealed in either country State-owned television did not interrupt its initiatives including a science-focused segment led by President Nicol s Maduro during or after the evening earthquake An hour afterward Communications Minister Freddy ez stated on the Telegram app that the state s Venezuelan Foundation for Technological Research had broadcasted two earthquakes with magnitudes of and but he did not address the quake noted by the USGS He commented the weaker of the two happened in Zulia state the other happened in Barinas state Mene Grande is on the eastern coast of Lake Maracaibo an fundamental area for the country s oil industry Venezuela has the world s largest proven oil reserves