The magnitude 6.6 earthquake killed 240 and caused $50 million in property damage. The ground collapsed beneath this structure in Caracas. A house in foreground has been removed. A number of houses with one or two floors showed great damage in Caracas and in the surrounding area. In addition, a number of high-rise buildings were partially or totally destroyed. This destruction was concentrated in two small areas, one in Caracas and one in Caraballeda, north of Caracas. Soil failures such as the one shown here were blamed for much of the damage.

Image Credit: NOAA National Geophysical Data Center