The 2 earthquakes that struck Venezuela are known as a 'doublet.' Here's how they happen (opens original article in a new tab)

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern coast, killing over 180 people and causing significant damage, with scientists explaining they were a 'doublet' occurring 39 seconds apart along the Bocono fault system.

• Two earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern coast, killing over 180 people and causing significant damage.
• The quakes were a 'doublet' with magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 occurring 39 seconds apart.
• The Bocono fault system, part of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plate boundary, caused the earthquakes.