Two major earthquakes M7.2 and M7.5 strike Venezuela within 39 seconds
A rare earthquake doublet struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026, beginning with an M7.2 foreshock at 22:04 UTC (18:04 LT) and followed just 39 seconds later by a larger M7.5 mainshock at 22:05 UTC. The USGS reported depths of 20.3 km (12.6 miles) for the foreshock and 10 km (6.2 miles) for the mainshock. EMSC reported the foreshock as M7.1 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) and the mainshock as M7.5 at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said evaluation of all available data indicates that a destructive tsunami was not generated. Reports received by 06:00 UTC on June 25 mention at least 32 deaths and over 700 people injured. The death toll is expected to continue rising.
Epicenter of M7.5 earthquake in Carabobo, Venezuela on June 24, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The earthquake sequence began with an M7.2 foreshock at 22:04 UTC, followed just 39 seconds later by a larger M7.5 mainshock at 22:05 UTC. Both earthquakes struck within a few kilometers of each other southeast of Yumare in northern Venezuela.
The M7.2 foreshock was located 23 km (15 miles) SE of Yumare (population 15 661) and 26 km (16 miles) ENE of San Felipe (population 206 270). The M7.5 mainshock occurred 39 seconds later, with its epicenter located 28 km (18 miles) SE of Yumare (population 15 661), 29 km (18 miles) NNW of Montalbán (population 29 451), 30 km (19 miles) W of Morón (population 68 084), and 31 km (20 miles) ENE of San Felipe (population 206 270).
6 000 people are estimated to have felt violent shaking associated with the M7.5, 347 000 severe, 471 000 very strong, and 5.3 million strong.
Evaluation of all available data indicates that a destructive tsunami was not generated by either earthquake, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC).
The USGS issued Red PAGER alerts for both earthquakes, indicating high casualties and extensive damage are probable and that the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are 1–4% of Venezuela’s GDP for the M7.5 mainshock and 0–7% for the M7.2 foreshock.
Overall, the population in the affected region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block construction. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as tsunamis that might have contributed to losses.
Liquefaction and landsliding are expected to be significant for both earthquakes, with large areas and populations exposed to potential ground failure.
“Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are currently carrying out very intense rescue efforts to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez said at 05:00 UTC on June 25. Building collapses have been confirmed in Caracas, Trujillo, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, and La Guaira.
La Guaira, a coastal state in the north of the country near Caracas, is the most affected, with “dozens” of buildings collapsed, Rodríguez said. “We can say that La Guaira state is a true tragedy and has become a disaster zone.”
Latest figures show at least 32 people were killed, not including those from La Guaira state, and more than 700 were injured.
Rodríguez said the country’s main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, was closed after sustaining severe damage. Schools have been closed for several days.
A state of emergency has been declared, and rescue teams from the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Qatar, and the Dominican Republic are expected to arrive in the country.
“Authorities, security forces, medical services, and civil protection are deployed across the entire country to address the situation,” Rodríguez said.
Today’s M7.5 earthquake southeast of Yumare, Venezuela, resulted from shallow right-lateral strike-slip faulting near the complex boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates, according to the USGS.
At the earthquake’s location, the Caribbean Plate moves eastward relative to the South American Plate at approximately 20 mm (0.8 inches) per year. This motion is primarily accommodated by a major system of right-lateral strike-slip faults across northern Venezuela.
The earthquake’s shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), location and focal mechanism are consistent with rupture along the regional plate-boundary system, including the Boconó fault system.
The M7.5 earthquake was the larger event in a seismic doublet, occurring 39 seconds after an M7.2 earthquake. A seismic doublet consists of two earthquakes of similar magnitude occurring close together in time and location, and may reflect complex interaction between ruptures on nearby or connected fault segments.
Although earthquakes are commonly represented as points on maps, events of this magnitude involve slip across a broad fault area. Strike-slip earthquakes comparable to the June 24 event typically rupture an area of approximately 150 x 20 km (93 x 12 miles).
Northern Venezuela has a history of large and damaging earthquakes. However, only seven M6.0 or stronger earthquakes have occurred within 250 km (155 miles) of the June 24 earthquakes over the past century.
The region experienced another earthquake doublet in September 2025, when M6.2 and M6.3 earthquakes struck west-southwest of the 2026 events. That sequence caused at least 1 fatality, more than 110 injuries and extensive structural damage across Zulia and Lara states.
An M6.4 earthquake struck east-northeast of the June 2026 epicenters in September 2009, injuring 18 people and damaging buildings near Morón. An M6.0 earthquake in 1989 caused slight damage in the Valencia area, while an M6.1 earthquake affected the broader region in April 1975.
The most damaging modern earthquake in the surrounding region was the July 1967 M6.6 Caracas earthquake, with the epicenter approximately 131 km (81 miles) east of the June 2026 sequence. It caused about 240 fatalities, injured hundreds of people, collapsed multiple high-rise apartment buildings, and caused widespread destruction.
Across northern Venezuela and nearby offshore areas, five M7.0 or stronger earthquakes have occurred since 1900.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M7.5 earthquake, Carabobo, Venezuela – USGS – June 24, 2026
2 M7.2 earthquake, Yaracuy, Venezuela – USGS – June 24, 2026
3 M7.5 earthquake, Carabobo, Venezuela – EMSC – June 24, 2026
4 M7.1 earthquake, Yaracuy, Venezuela – EMSC – June 24, 2026
5 Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) tsunami message No. 3 – PTWC – June 24, 2026
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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