Strong and shallow M6.2 earthquake hits Venezuela
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.2 hit northern Venezuela at 22:21 UTC (18:21 local time) on September 25, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 8 km (5 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. The USGS issued a Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses.
Epicenter of M6.2 earthquake in northern Venezuela on September 24, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 24 km (15 miles) ENE of Mene Grande (population 60 580), 50 km (37 miles) NNW of Pampan (population 59 657), and 61 km (38 miles) NNW of Motatan (population 25 437), Venezuela.
25 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 203 000 strong, 714 000 moderate and 9 360 000 weak.
The USGS issued a Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past yellow alerts have required a local or regional level response. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Venezuela.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are mud wall and adobe block construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Landslides triggered by this earthquake are estimated to be limited in number and (or) spatial extent but liquefaction might be significant.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.2 earthquake Venezuela – USGS – September 24,2025
2 M6.2 earthquake Venezuela – EMSC – September 24, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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