Why Venezuela’s ‘doublet’ earthquakes were so devastating

A rare seismic phenomenon struck Venezuela yesterday evening: a 'doublet' earthquake — two major tremors in quick succession. The pair of quakes has killed nearly six hundred people and injured thousands more. According to France 24, doublets are unusual because the second earthquake, striking when the ground is already destabilized by the first, can amplify destruction far beyond what a single tremor of similar magnitude would cause. The compounding effect of rapid successive shaking intensifies building collapse and infrastructure failure, making doublet events some of the most devastating seismic events possible.

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