Two strong earthquakes rattle Venezuela

On the evening of 24 June at 18:04 local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 struck northern Venezuela, approximately 200 km west of the capital, Caracas. About half a minute later, another earthquake of magnitude 7.5 followed. Due to their strength and shallow depth of 10 to 20 kilometres, the two earthquakes caused very severe damage to buildings, likely resulting in thousands to tens of thousands of fatalities. The affected area is very large and also includes the capital.

Both earthquakes occurred near the small town of Yumare in the state of Yaracuy. According to an initial assessment by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the events constitute a doublet earthquake. This means that two earthquakes of similar magnitude occurr in quick succession, indicating the activation of different fault zones. Additional aftershocks, some of which may be strong, are expected. There is also a small probability that another earthquake of similar or even greater magnitude could occur.

Last night’s earthquakes occurred along the boundary between the Caribbean Plate to the north and the South American Plate to the south. The Caribbean Plate is moving eastwards at a rate of approximately 2 centimetres per year relative to the South American Plate. This movement builds up significant stress underground, which is periodically released in the form of earthquakes.

Venezuela has been repeatedly affected by destructive earthquakes over the past four centuries. According to the national seismic catalogue, around 180 earthquakes have caused varying degrees of damage across the country. The most devastating earthquake, which had a comparable magnitude, occurred on 26 March 1812 along the Boconó fault system. It caused widespread destruction in the cities of Mérida and Caracas and resulted in an estimated 30,000 fatalities.

According to the latest reports, many buildings have collapsed, suggesting a very large number of injuries and fatalities. Videos shared on social media indicate that the destruction is widespread and has also affected, among other places, the capital Caracas, located around 200 kilometres away. There, damage has been reported at the airport, and fatalities have also been confirmed. The situation on the ground remains difficult to assess, partly due to disrupted mobile communications. Based on past events, it may take several days to gain a clearer picture of the damage and several weeks to months before the full impact can be assessed.

In Switzerland, an earthquake of this magnitude is highly unlikely, because the known underground faults are not long enough. However, earthquakes of around magnitude 6 can be expected every 50 to 150 years. Such an event releases roughly 180 times less energy than an earthquake of magnitude 7.5, yet it would still cause significant damage.