VZCZCXRO8169
PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT
RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHCV #1218 2601531
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171531Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3711
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY

UNCLAS CARACAS 001218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
TREASURY FOR MKACZMAREK 
NSC FOR DRESTREPO 
NSC FOR LROSSELLO 
USDOC FOR 4332 MAC/ITA/WH/JLAO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECIN ECON EFIN EIND EINV ELAB EMIN ENRG EPET
VE 
SUBJECT: EARTHQUAKE STRIKS VENEZUELA, BUT CHAVEZ DOESN'T 
JUMP 
 
¶1.  (U)  This information was previously reported in a 
classified cable on September 14.  This information is 
unclassified. 
 
¶2.  (U)  On September 12, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck 
the coast of Venezuela at approximately 3:36 PM local time, 
according to the Venezuelan Seismological Foundation 
(FUNVISI).  FUNVISI reported that the earthquake's epicenter 
was 100 kilometers west of Caracas, off the coast of Carabobo 
state.  Francisco Garces, President of FUNVISI, told 
reporters that geologists expect additional earthquakes in 
the coming weeks as tectonic plates continue to adjust. 
 
¶3.  (U)  Press reports indicate that the most extensive 
damage occurred in Falcon state.  At a press conference on 
September 13, the National Director of Civil Protection, Luis 
Diaz Curbelo, said that 15 people were injured in Falcon, 
including one girl who jumped from her balcony.  Interior 
Minister Tarek El Aissami told the press that the quake 
damaged 17 houses and two buildings there.  Curbelo said 
FUNVISI planned to inspect the safety of buildings affected 
by the quake. 
 
¶4.  (U)  Curbelo said no injuries had been reported in 
Caracas, although the earthquake damaged the dome of the 
National Pantheon.  However, heavy rains in the capital on 
the same day dumped 45 to 60 liters of water per square meter 
on the city, according to newspaper reports, with flooding 
blocking off several neighborhoods and leaving some residents 
without water or electricity. 
 
¶5.  (U)  During his Sunday "Hello, President" television and 
radio program, President Hugo Chavez acknowledged the 
strength of the earthquake and asked for God's continued 
assistance.  "I didn't jump from the balcony, but it moved 
everything; the wood on the floor creaked," he said. 
DUDDY