5.6 magnitude earthquake hits Venezuela

An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale hit Venezuela today, the USGS has confirmed.

The epicenter of the quake was 7 miles underground and 25 miles from Carupano in northwestern Venezuela. The USGS originally reported a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale and an epicenter slightly closer to Carupano. The quake struck about 235 miles east of Caracas.

The earthquake in Venezuela occurred at approximately 1:30 local times. Although a handful of areas lost power, no serious injuries or structural damage was reported and power is being quickly restored to affected locations. A governor of a neighboring state called the quake “relatively mild.”