Three strong earthquakes struck around the world within hours on Thursday, including two in Venezuela, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in northeastern Japan and a 5.6-magnitude quake in northern California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While the series of earthquakes has raised questions about whether they are related, experts say they are not.Venezuela was reportedly the worst affected, with the US Geological Survey recording earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 within seconds. The strong tremors triggered widespread panic across the country, knocking down several buildings and cracking roads in the capital Caracas, forcing residents onto the streets as emergency teams rushed to the affected areas.The mayor of the Chacao district of Caracas confirmed that people were killed in the earthquake, but the specific death toll has not yet been announced. Rescue operations are continuing and authorities have warned that the number of casualties may rise as the search progresses.Venezuela’s president said about 20 aftershocks had been recorded after the two earthquakes. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued a tsunami threat for parts of the Caribbean, while officials continued to monitor sea level changes and advised coastal residents to remain vigilant.According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan. Authorities said no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no abnormalities were detected at the nuclear facility.The Japanese government established an emergency team to collect information from the stricken Tohoku region and prepare for relief operations. The epicenter was located about 50 kilometers offshore from Iwate Prefecture. The strongest earthquake occurred in Aomori Prefecture, with the intensity reaching Japan’s 7th magnitude earthquake and above 6, making it difficult for people to stand.Tohoku Electric Power said no abnormalities were detected at its Onagawa nuclear power plant and the idled Totsugi nuclear power plant, while the nuclear regulator reported no problems at nearby nuclear facilities. East Japan Railway Co. temporarily suspended some services on the Tohoku Shinkansen and other trains and closed some highways for inspections.In the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in northern California. The earthquake occurred about 11 kilometers north of Sequoia Valley with a focal depth of 8.1 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of damage, and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said it was coordinating with emergency officials and assessing potential impacts.Three powerful earthquakes on the same day have raised questions about whether one could trigger another.Caltech seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones told CNN that the earthquakes occurred on different fault systems and plate boundaries, meaning one of them did not trigger the others. Large earthquakes thousands of miles apart generally don’t increase the likelihood of another large earthquake happening elsewhere, she said.While the timing may seem unusual, the location does not, according to CNN. Each earthquake occurs along what are known as active plate boundaries, where stresses have accumulated over decades or even centuries. In these areas, large earthquakes are an expected part of the Earth’s natural cycles, although it remains impossible to predict exactly when they will occur.Japan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, accounting for about one-fifth of all earthquakes measuring magnitude 6 or above. In 2011, the country suffered a magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami, triggering the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
