A 5.6 magnitude earthquake has hit Venezuela near the small Caribbean coastal town of Carupano, the United States Geological Survey says.
The quake, at a relatively shallow depth of 12 kilometres, was centred about 39 km south-west of Carupano and was felt in Puerto La Cruz, where state oil company PDVSA has a refinery.
PDVSA said it had no immediate reports of damage.
“Everyone felt it. People are very alarmed,” a resident of Puerto La Cruz, Maria de los Angeles Rondon, said by telephone.
Radio reports said the tremor was felt in a wide area stretching to the Caribbean island of Margarita, a popular holiday destination for European tourists.
Initial USGS reports had put the quake at 5.7 magnitude.
