Rescue operations are underway after back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, collapsing buildings in Caracas and sending residents running for safety.

A powerful earthquake struck near the northern coast of Venezuela, 28 kilometers (about 17.3 miles) northwest of Montalbán, where some of the country’s largest refineries are located.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.5, according to the US Geological Survey. It happened just 40 seconds after a foreshock with a magnitude of 7.2 rocked the area. Terrified residents were seen evacuating buildings with their loved ones and pets before gathering in the street.

A man climbs out from a damaged apartment building following an earthquake in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state.
A man climbs out from a damaged apartment building following an earthquake in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
People walk past a collapsed building following an earthquake in Caracas.
People walk past a collapsed building following an earthquake in Caracas.
Manaure Quintero/AFP/Getty Images
People search for survivors while others try to salvage belongings in a collapsed building in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state.
People search for survivors while others try to salvage belongings in a collapsed building in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
A damaged apartment building following an earthquake in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, some 30km north-west of Caracas.
A damaged apartment building following an earthquake in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, some 30km north-west of Caracas.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
Juan Carlos Gomez, a firefighter from Caracas, looks for his sister, Katiuska Hernandez, and nephew Brett Roude, amid the rubble of a building in La Guaira
Juan Carlos Gomez, a firefighter from Caracas, looks for his sister, Katiuska Hernandez, and nephew Brett Roude, amid the rubble of a building in La Guaira
Gaby Oraa/Reuters
Fanny Nasri waits at the site of a collapsed building as emergency workers search for her son, Antonio Nasri, alongside Noemi Cordoba, who awaits news of her granddaughter, after an earthquake in Caracas.
Fanny Nasri waits at the site of a collapsed building as emergency workers search for her son, Antonio Nasri, alongside Noemi Cordoba, who awaits news of her granddaughter, after an earthquake in Caracas.
Gaby Oraa/Reuters
Residents and emergency workers stand near damaged buildings in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state.
Residents and emergency workers stand near damaged buildings in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
Rescue teams continue searching the rubble of a collapsed building for survivors in the San Bernardino neighborhood of Caracas.
Rescue teams continue searching the rubble of a collapsed building for survivors in the San Bernardino neighborhood of Caracas.
Diko Betancourt/Anadolu/Getty Images
Astrid Espinoza and Noemi Cordoba, the mother and grandmother of Shantal Quintero,18, wait at the site of a collapsed building, as emergency workers search for her, in Caracas.
Astrid Espinoza and Noemi Cordoba, the mother and grandmother of Shantal Quintero,18, wait at the site of a collapsed building, as emergency workers search for her, in Caracas.
Gaby Oraa/Reuters
Residents search for victims after earthquakes, in La Guaira, Venezuela, on Wednesday, June 24.
Residents search for victims after earthquakes, in La Guaira, Venezuela, on Wednesday, June 24.
Maxwell Briceno/Reuters
A man rescued from a collapsed building is treated inside an ambulance in Caracas.
A man rescued from a collapsed building is treated inside an ambulance in Caracas.
Gaby Oraa/Reuters
Rescue workers carry a person on a stretcher out of a collapsed building in Caracas.
Rescue workers carry a person on a stretcher out of a collapsed building in Caracas.
Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images
People run through the streets of Caracas.
People run through the streets of Caracas.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
People evacuate a building in the Parque Central Complex in Caracas.
People evacuate a building in the Parque Central Complex in Caracas.
Jesus Vargas/Getty Images
A damaged apartment building in Caracas is seen following the earthquakes.
A damaged apartment building in Caracas is seen following the earthquakes.
Manuare Quintero/AFP/Getty Images
People in Caracas react to the earthquakes.
People in Caracas react to the earthquakes.
Gaby Oraa/Reuters
Rescue workers evacuate an injured person from a collapsed building in Caracas.
Rescue workers evacuate an injured person from a collapsed building in Caracas.
Manaure Quintero/AFP/Getty Images
A boy comforts his mother in Caracas.
A boy comforts his mother in Caracas.
Pedro Mattey/AP
People wait outside their homes in Caracas after the earthquakes.
People wait outside their homes in Caracas after the earthquakes.
Ariana Cubillos/AP
A car is smashed by a collapsed building in Caracas.
A car is smashed by a collapsed building in Caracas.
Adrian Naranjo/AP
A woman comforts a child in the street in Caracas.
A woman comforts a child in the street in Caracas.
Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images
People with pets evacuate a building at Parque Central Complex in Caracas.
People with pets evacuate a building at Parque Central Complex in Caracas.
Jesus Vargas/Getty Images
A woman runs with a child to take cover in La Guaira.
A woman runs with a child to take cover in La Guaira.
Maxwell Briceno/Reuters
Residents console a man outside their homes in Caracas.
Residents console a man outside their homes in Caracas.
Ariana Cubillos/AP
First responders search the rubble of a damaged building at Los Palos Grandes in Caracas.
First responders search the rubble of a damaged building at Los Palos Grandes in Caracas.
Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images
Senior citizens sit outside damaged buildings in Caracas.
Senior citizens sit outside damaged buildings in Caracas.
Adrian Naranjo/AP
First responders survey a damaged building at Los Palos Grandes.
First responders survey a damaged building at Los Palos Grandes.
Jesus Vargas/Getty Images
People gather outdoors near a damaged building in Caracas.
People gather outdoors near a damaged building in Caracas.
Fausto Torrealba/Reuters
A woman walks with kids after the earthquake.
A woman walks with kids after the earthquake.
Maxwell Briceno/Reuters
People embrace in Caracas.
People embrace in Caracas.
Manaure Quintero/AFP/Getty Images