A powerful doublet of earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing significant damage, casualties, and prompting a state of emergency.
The two seismic events occurred within approximately one minute of each other and are among the strongest to hit the country in over a century.
Seismic Event Details
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake—a magnitude 7.2—struck at approximately 6:04 p.m. local time. It was followed 39 seconds later by a second earthquake of magnitude 7.5.
- Location: The epicenters were located near the coastal town of Morón, approximately 168 km (100 miles) west of Caracas.
- Depth: The USGS reported the first quake at a depth of 13 km and the second at 10 km.
Seismologists have described this as a "doublet" event—two earthquakes of similar magnitude occurring close in time and space—likely originating from different faults. The region lies on the diffuse boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.
Impact and Damage
The earthquakes caused structural damage across several Venezuelan states, including Caracas, Miranda, La Guaira, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón.
- Buildings: Multiple buildings collapsed in Caracas, including a residential structure in the Altamira neighborhood. A hotel in La Guaira, Eduard's Hotel Boutique, sustained major damage, with its main façade collapsing.
- Airport: Simón Bolívar International Airport (Maiquetía) in La Guaira was closed due to structural damage, including roof damage and falling debris.
- Transportation: Metro and train systems in Caracas were halted. Roads in affected areas were reported to be congested.
- Infrastructure: Power outages and ground failure, including potential landslides and liquefaction, were anticipated in the mountainous region.
Official reports confirmed at least 164 deaths, as rescue crews continued searching collapsed buildings.
Casualties
Officials confirmed at least 164 deaths. The mayor of the Chacao district reported fatalities but did not provide a specific number. A teenage girl was rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Altamira. Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas doubled its night shift staff to treat the injured. The USGS issued modeling that suggested potential casualties could range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Official Response
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency and urged citizens to remain calm, evacuate damaged buildings, and report to medical facilities if they were health workers.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged people to stay outdoors due to the risk of aftershocks, asked motorists to clear roads for emergency vehicles, and stated that rescue efforts were being activated.
General Juan Ernesto Sulbarán Quintero, head of the Bolivarian National Guard, was tasked with leading the military earthquake response.
Tsunami Alerts
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for the Virgin Islands. The Dominican Republic also issued an alert. An alert for Puerto Rico was initially issued but was quickly lifted.
Regional and Global Context
- The earthquakes struck on the anniversary of the 1821 Battle of Carabobo, a national holiday in Venezuela.
- Approximately 30 minutes after the Venezuelan earthquakes, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the east coast of Japan.
- Earlier in the day, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Northern California.
No major damage was reported from those events.
The USGS forecasted a 40% probability of a magnitude 6 or larger earthquake in the same Venezuelan region within the next week, and a near certainty of a magnitude 5 or larger event.