2026 Venezuela earthquakes
M7.2 and M7.5 doublet earthquake
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On 24 June 2026, a Mw 7.2 foreshock struck western Venezuela shortly before being followed by a Mw 7.5 mainshock about 40 seconds later. The earthquakes have caused widespread damage across damage, particularly in the capital, Caracas.
.svg)  | |
| UTC time | 2026-06-24 22:04:33 |
|---|---|
| 2026-06-24 22:05:11 | |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| ComCat | |
| Local date | 24 June 2026 |
| Local time | 18:04:33 VET (UTC-4) |
| 18:05:11 VET (UTC-4) | |
| Magnitude | Mw 7.2 |
| Mw 7.5 | |
| Depth | 21.9 km (14 mi) |
| 10 km (6 mi) | |
| Epicenter | 10.407°N 68.493°W |
| Type | Strike-slip |
| Max. intensity | MMI IX (Violent) |
| Aftershocks | 6+ |
| Casualties | Unspecified fatalities, 16+ injuries, "many" trapped |
Tectonic setting
In northern Venezuela, the Caribbean plate and South American plate interact along a complex plate boundary called the Boconó-Morón-El Pilar Fault System. It is a complex series of right-lateral strike-slip faults that developed in the late Tertiary, and forms part of the transform plate boundary in the southern Caribbean. This fault runs 1,300 km (810 mi) along northern Venezuela, from the central Venezuelan Andes, through its north-central and northeastern coast, and towards Trinidad.[1]
Earthquakes
The first shock was an Mww 7.2 earthquake at 22:04 UTC east-northeast of San Felipe at a depth of 21.9 km (13.6 mi). It was caused by either left-lateral strike-slip faulting on an east-west trending fault, or right-lateral strike-slip faulting on a north-south striking fault.[2]
Thirty-nine seconds later, a Mww 7.5 shock struck north of the foreshock, southeast of Yumare, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi). Both earthquakes were in Veroes municipality, Yaracuy state. This earthquake was caused by either right-lateral strike-slip faulting on an east-west trending fault, or left-lateral strike-slip faulting on a north-south striking fault. The USGS said that it likely ruptured along fault with slip confined to a 150 by 20 km (93 by 12 mi) area.[3]
A tsunami alert was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands following the earthquake,[4] but was later retreated.[5]
Six aftershocks were felt in Caracas within two hours of the mainshock.[6]
Shaking was also felt across northern Brazil, including in Manaus and Belém.[7]
Impact
The number of casualties is currently unknown, believed to be due to disrupted communications or a possible media blackout in Venezuela,[6] with search and rescue operations ongoing.[8][9]
In Caracas, an unspecified number of fatalities and 16 injuries were reported after two buildings collapsed in Chacao,[10] with many people trapped under rubble.[11] Dozens of other buildings reportedly collapsed across the city,[6] including a bank.[12] Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira municipalities were the worst-affected parts of the city.[13] In an unspecified area in southeastern Caracas, almost all high-rise buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed, with many of them collapsing.[6]
Simón Bolívar International Airport was damaged, and all flights departing from or arriving there were canceled.[6]
Buildings also collapsed in Trujillo, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda and La Guaira.[6]
Estimations of losses
For the mainshock, the USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) service estimated a 39% probability of economic losses between US$10 billion and US$100 billion, and a 30% probability of economic losses exceeding US$100 billion; upper estimates of economic losses amount to up to 20% of Venezuela's GDP.[citation needed] The service also estimated a 44% probability of deaths between 10,000 and 100,000, and a 30% probability of deaths exceeding 100,000.[3]
Response
Venezuelan interior minister Diosdado Cabello said that "several" states were impacted.[13] The government ordered the gas supply turned off in order to avoid explosions in collapsed buildings in Caracas.[14]