Major earthquakes strike US, Venezuela and Japan

Three major earthquakes rattled a trio of nations globally on Thursday.

The first quake hit the north coast of California with a 5.6 magnitude tremor, just after 8am on Wednesday local time.

It was followed by the largest of the three quakes, a 7.5 magnitude tremor which hit the north coast of Venezuela just after 6pm on Wednesday local time.

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About half an hour later, Japan was hit with a 6.9 magnitude quake, about 7.30am on Thursday local time.

Dozens killed in Venezuela earthquake

In Venezuela, buildings collapsed in the capital of Caracas, nearly 170km from the epicentre of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Moron, on the Caribbean coast.

The first quake which struck at a depth of 21km, was followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake that hit at a depth of 10km less than two minutes later, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello described the situation as “alarming” and urged people to remain outside in case aftershocks further damaged structures.

Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts within 300km of the earthquake epicentre, the US Tsunami Warning Centre said.

Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands both fall within that radius.

Some of the Venezuela’s largest refineries are also located in Montalbán, an just 28km northwest of the epicentre.

Dozens of people of people are dead following the quake. Read further details here.

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7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes rock Venezuela

7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes rock VenezuelaCommuters rattled in Tokyo

Tsunami warnings were cancelled in Japan where the 6.9 magnitude tremor hit off the coast of Iwate in the nation’s north.

The quake struck at a depth of 51km, the USGS said.

Tremors were felt seven hours south in Tokyo, where mild shaking rattled commuters during the Thursday morning peak hour rush.

Japan’s longest bullet train line, the Tohoku Shinkansen, also halted operations, according to Japan Safe Travel.

There have been no immediate reports of injuries or damages.

Japan sits on the boundary of several tectonic plates, known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone areas.

California quake the strongest since 1940

The 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit a rural area in northern California is the strongest tremor that the coastal agricultural region has recorded since 1940.

Three other quakes under magnitude 2.7 struck near the epicenter within an hour of the major quake.

An owner of the Redwood Valley Market looks at the mess made during a earthquake in Redwood Valley, California. Credit: AP via NBC

Supermarket goods were shaken loose from shelves and smashed in the aisles of Redwood Valley Market.

Brie Leon, an employee of the Club Calpella Restaurant five-minutes south, had just flicked on the open sign when she felt the quake.

“It almost felt like something hit the building,” she said.

– With CNN, NBC and AP