Magnitude 7.3 earthquake shakes the northern coast of Venezuela, no tsunami threat

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook the coast of Venezuela on Tuesday evening, the United States Geological Survey reports.

(Image via USGS)

The quake was centered near the town of Guiria, which is approximately 80km from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago's capital city.

Shaking was felt across the region, including some islands in the Caribbean, according to the USGS. Tremors were felt 286 miles (622 km) away in the capital of Caracas.

Limited damage has been reported as the temblor was rather deep, with an epicenter of 76 miles (123 km) from the surface, according to the Associated Press (AP).

In downtown Caracas, concrete from an unfinished skyscraper fell to the sidewalk, prompting authorities to close off the road, the AP said.

No tsunami was reported in the wake of the earthquake.

This is the strongest earthquake to occur in this part of the Caribbean since a magnitude 7.4 earthquake shook the Martinique region of the Windward Islands on Nov. 29, 2007.

Maryeli Verde holds her niece Yalin, who clutches her cat Will, as Yalin's grandfather Tonisio, who is sick, lies behind them after they evacuated their apartment on the ninth floor after a powerful earthquake shook eastern Venezuela, causing buildings to be evacuated in the capital of Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

An abandoned, unfinished skyscraper known as "The Tower of David" shows an inclination on the top floors where the columns are exposed, top center, after a powerful earthquake shook eastern Venezuela, causing buildings to be evacuated in the capital of Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)