Twin Earthquakes Strike Venezuela Causing Widespread Damage

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Two powerful underground shocks striking 39 seconds apart have shaken Venezuela. A state of emergency has been declared, the main airport closed, and thousands of people are feared trapped under rubble.

In the evening of 24 June 2026, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurred in Venezuela within an interval of 39 seconds. The first tremor was recorded at 18:04 local time.

The epicenter of the first earthquake was located west of the city of Moron on the country's Caribbean coast, approximately 168 kilometers west of Caracas, at a depth of 22 kilometers. The second, more powerful shock had a depth of 10 kilometers and an epicenter 16 kilometers southwest of the same city of Moron.

The seismic event proved particularly destructive precisely due to the double nature of the strikes. People survived the first shock, but the second caught them just as they were running into the streets or attempting to save property. Buildings that withstood the first impact did not hold up against the second.

According to eyewitness accounts, the earthquake felt very long—around two minutes—and was significantly stronger than anything the country's residents had experienced in recent decades.

According to Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez, at least 32 people were killed and about 700 were injured. In Caracas, entire residential blocks collapsed, with mounds of broken concrete and metal structures blocking the streets of the capital.

Estimates from the US Geological Survey (USGS) automated PAGER monitoring system indicate that the real number of casualties could be significantly higher, placing the probability of 10,000 to 100,000 fatalities at 39%.

The most severe destruction was recorded in Caracas. The country's largest airport, Simon Bolivar in Maiquetia, has been closed. Schools canceled classes until the end of the week, and hospitals have been switched to reinforced operating modes.

"This earthquake was terrible, even worse than in 1967," 80-year-old pensioner Maria Romero from a southern district of Caracas told Reuters.

According to the New York Times, the event was the strongest earthquake in Venezuela since 1900. The last major seismic event in the capital was the 1963 earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3, which claimed 236 lives and left more than 1,500 injured. The current disaster significantly surpassed that strike in power.

Venezuela is located in a seismically active zone at the junction of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. According to USGS estimates, an 1812 earthquake in Merida and Caracas killed approximately 30,000 people.

Delcy Rodriguez announced a state of emergency. In many regions of the country, all official events have been canceled until 30 June 2026. Authorities urged citizens to remain on the streets, as even outwardly intact buildings could be dangerous due to the displacement of load-bearing structures.

US President Donald Trump declared readiness to provide assistance to Venezuela and instructed all federal agencies to be ready to act immediately. Colombia reported the deployment of search and rescue teams, while El Salvador sent rescuers and paramedics.

The Russian Embassy in Caracas reported that it is clarifying information regarding possible affected citizens of the Russian Federation and is maintaining contact with the Venezuelan authorities.

Immediately after the earthquakes, the US tsunami warning system issued an alert for several areas of the Caribbean basin, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. However, the warning was later canceled.

According to civil protection services, Venezuela's oil infrastructure was not seriously damaged, although energy companies continue to inspect facilities.

Economic losses, according to USGS estimates, could amount to between 1% and 5% of Venezuela's GDP. The earthquake occurred in the immediate vicinity of major oil refineries.

Residents of Caracas spent several hours on the streets even after sunset. People sat on the ground holding pets amid clouds of dust. Collapsed buildings, toppled power poles, and debris blocked roads. Part of the capital was left without electricity and mobile communications.

Tremors were felt in cities up to 1,700 kilometers away from Caracas, extending as far as the Brazilian Amazon.

Rescue operations are continuing. The country's authorities are warning of possible aftershocks and are urging the population to remain calm and follow the instructions of emergency services.