Rescue Efforts Underway After Earthquakes Hit Venezuela

Rescuers are diligently searching for victims in Caracas following a building collapse caused by two significant earthquakes on June 24, 2026. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, two major earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, reducing many structures in the capital city to rubble. The first tremor, a 7.2-magnitude foreshock, occurred around 6 p.m. Eastern time, and was swiftly followed, less than a minute later, by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in the same vicinity.

The epicenters of these seismic events, estimated to be about 3 miles apart, were located near the town of Morón along Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, approximately 100 miles west of Caracas.

Seismologist Paul Earle from the USGS stated, “When the earthquakes are this close together in time, it can be difficult to unravel the exact magnitudes and the exact locations, especially for the second event,” due to overlapping signals on seismograms.

Social media is awash with images and videos displaying leveled buildings, people frantically seeking safety, and debris falling from damaged structures at the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, prompting its closure.

The total number of casualties remains undetermined. On Wednesday evening, USGS’s modeling of the 7.5-magnitude earthquake suggested deaths could range from thousands to tens of thousands, with economic losses potentially reaching billions to tens of billions of dollars.

Earle further noted, “This doesn’t happen very often. When they’re right together, it’s hard to understand what would happen.” The stronger quake is the most potent earthquake to strike Venezuela since 1900, when a 7.7-magnitude quake occurred.

In the aftermath, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake was recorded on the east coast of Japan and a 5.6-magnitude tremor hit Northern California earlier Wednesday. Neither caused significant damage.

In Venezuela, significant aftershocks are likely in the upcoming days. USGS forecasts a 40% chance of a 6-magnitude or larger earthquake occurring in the same region within the next week and a near certainty of a quake measuring at least magnitude 5.

Tsunami warnings initially issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were revoked, with no advisories in effect as of Wednesday night. Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, declared a state of emergency and reported various states had incurred damage. She called for unity and urged, “our population to remain calm.”