Terrified residents fled onto the streets as the earthquake ripped through the capital Caracas, and felt as far as neighbouring Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia.
Pictures show structural damage after the quake tilted the top five floors of an abandoned 45-story skyscraper known as the ‘Tower of David’.
The images show the building’s top floors, which are unfinished, leaning sideways.
Venezuelan Civil Protection members and firefighters are inspecting the damage to the skyscraper.
Other images show visibly shaken residents waiting in the streets after having been evacuated.
In Trinidad and Tobago, there were reports of some cracks to buildings, cars damaged from falling concrete debris, and loss of electricity.
No fatalities or injuries have been reported.
Elia Sanchez, a doctor in Cumana, Venezuela, said: “I had gotten into bed to watch the news on TV and my bed started to move as if it was made of water.”