Two powerful earthquakes struck northcentral Venezuela on Wednesday, collapsing buildings, triggering panic across the country and capital of Caracas, and prompting the U.S. Geological Survey to warn that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable.”

The USGS said a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Moron, about 130 miles west of Caracas, at a depth of about 8 miles. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5 magnitude quake struck nearby at a shallower depth of about 6 miles.