A powerful earthquake struck off Venezuela’s northern coast on June 24 local time. Different agencies measured it between magnitude 7.1 and 7.5. The epicentre was near Morón, about 160 km west of Caracas, at a depth of around 10 km. A second earthquake above magnitude 7 hit the same area within a minute.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) warned that the twin earthquakes could cause a large number of casualties and widespread damage. It estimated that hundreds of thousands of people experienced strong shaking, and the potential death toll could reach the tens of thousands if severe damage is confirmed.
Buildings were damaged in Caracas, while videos also showed destruction in areas including La Guaira. Authorities said many buildings in Venezuela are poorly built, increasing the risk of heavy damage. There are still no official nationwide casualty figures, and the worst-hit communities near the epicentre have not yet been fully assessed.
Soon after the earthquakes, the US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat for parts of Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The warning was later cancelled after officials said the earthquake no longer posed a tsunami threat.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced that the country would enter a nationwide state of emergency. She urged people to remain united, ordered schools across the country to close, and suspended all non-essential activities.
Rodríguez also said Maiquetía International Airport was closed after suffering earthquake-related damage. The mayor of Chacao confirmed that the earthquake caused casualties but did not provide any numbers.
Emergency teams are continuing search, rescue and damage assessment operations. Officials are monitoring the situation closely as communication with some areas near the epicentre remains limited, and the full extent of the disaster is still being determined.
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