The ground shook in Caracas. Literally. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck near the Venezuelan capital, sending panicked passengers scrambling at Simón Bolívar International Airport. The quake, which hit at 2:47 PM local time, was felt across the city.
The UK Embassy has confirmed no British nationals were harmed. Let that sink in. A diplomatic source told me: “We’ve checked our list. Everyone accounted for.”
But the real story is the optics. Caracas airport is a symbol of the regime’s decay. Broken infrastructure. Chronic shortages. Now this. The footage is gripping: chandeliers swaying, passengers running.
For the Foreign Office, this is a calculated relief. No consular crisis. No 2 AM calls to the duty minister. But behind the scenes, the geologists are buzzing. This quake could shift tectonic plates in the region’s fragile politics. Maduro’s government is already on shaky ground. Pun intended.
Insiders whisper that the embassy is on high alert for aftershocks. Standard protocol, they say. But the lobbying is fierce. Expect calls for emergency briefings when Parliament returns.
So the immediate danger passes. But the tremors will be felt in Westminster. The question on every MP’s lips: Are we ready for the next one?
Eleanor Rigby, Political Bureau Chief
