On the evening of June 24, 2026, Venezuela experienced two powerful earthquakes just 39 seconds apart. The first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 and occurred at a depth of 22 kilometers. It was immediately followed by a second, stronger earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5, which was closer to the surface. These earthquakes are the most destructive seismic events in the country since the early 1900s. They were caused by the movement of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. The shaking was felt across South America, even causing building evacuations in the Brazilian Amazon, over 1,700 kilometers away.
Near the earthquake's center, the damage was catastrophic. Caracas resident Hector Ricci described how the shaking started gently and then became much stronger, forcing people to leave their homes. The death toll has reached 164, with 971 people injured, but officials fear the final number will be much higher. The United States Geological Survey predicts a significant chance of fatalities between 1,000 and 10,000, or even more.
The epicenter was in Yaracuy state, but the coastal region of La Guaira suffered the worst destruction, with over 100 buildings collapsing. Many homes were built with materials like adobe and unreinforced brick, which are not strong enough for such violent shaking. In Caracas, daily life stopped. The main airport suspended flights, and public transportation was shut down. Schools were closed for the week.
Rescue efforts are difficult because of power outages and broken communication lines. To prevent fires, fuel networks were shut down. Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency and announced $200 million for rebuilding. The United States and other countries like Brazil, Ecuador, and Qatar are sending aid. Seismologists warn that more earthquakes are possible in the coming week.