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Doublet Magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 Earthquakes Strike Venezuela

Major Earthquakes Cause Widespread Damage in Venezuela

SITUATION SUMMARY | Intelligence cut off: 9:00 UTC 25 June 2026

At 18:04 local time (22:04 UTC) on 24 June, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake was detected 23 kilometres southeast of Yumare, Venezuela, at a depth of 20.3 kilometres. The first tremor was followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at 18:05 local time, 39 seconds after the initial foreshock, at a depth of 23 kilometres. Shortly after the earthquakes, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tsunami advisory for Venezuela, Curaçao, Aruba, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A separate notice stated that there was no tsunami risk for the US East Coast, Gulf Coast, or eastern Canada. The tsunami threat remained focused on coastal areas closer to the epicentre, particularly parts of the southern Caribbean. The National Weather Service subsequently updated its tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, stating that tsunami waves of less than one foot were expected.

Damage and disruption were widespread across Venezuela, specifically in Caracas. Local media sources reported dozens of building collapses, road closures, and utility outages reported across the capital region, including in Catia La Mar, Los Teques, La Pastora, Chacao, Altamira, Los Palos Grandes, Lídice, El Paraíso, Ciudad Universitaria, and San Bernardino. Water and power supplies were affected in Caracas and several northern states, while authorities shut off gas services in impacted areas as a precaution.

Social media footage showed shaking in downtown Caracas, damage inside apartments in La Tahona and significant structural damage in Altamira. A building collapse in the Los Palos Grandes area of Caracas reportedly caused at least two deaths. In Las Minas de Baruta, at least three people were killed in two building collapses. Beyond Caracas, significant damage was reported in La Guaira, Catia La Mar, Tucacas, Turmero, Morón, and San Antonio de los Altos. Reports also indicated multiple collapsed homes on fire in La Guaira, cracks in a highway in Morón, and possible damage or leaks at a chemical plant in Morón. Local media have also reported widespread gas outages and telecommunications service disruptions in Venezuela following the earthquake.

Tremors from the earthquakes were also felt in parts of Brazil’s Amazonas and Pará states, although local media have not reported any structural damage or casualties in those regions.

Video footage showed major damage inside Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía. Reports indicated that all flights at Simón Bolívar International Airport were cancelled. The Caracas Metro was also evacuated.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said at least 32 people had been killed and around 700 others injured by the earthquakes, and subsequently announced a nationwide state of emergency. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has made an initial estimate that the death toll could range from 10,000 to 100,000.

Argentina and Colombia indicated readiness to support response efforts, while Ecuador announced plans to send humanitarian aid. El Salvador said it had prepared more than 300 rescuers and 50 tonnes of equipment, supplies, and medicines for deployment. The Dominican Republic said specialised search-and-rescue teams would depart for Venezuela on the morning of 25 June, and US President Donald Trump has pledged to deploy US resources to Venezuela.

INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS

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Venezuela is highly exposed to seismic activity. The country is near the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, where plate motion is largely accommodated by major strike-slip fault systems across northern Venezuela, including the Boconó fault system. The 24 June earthquake southeast of Yumare occurred at a shallow depth and was associated with strike-slip faulting along this boundary.

Northern Venezuela has a history of significant seismic activity, though large earthquakes near the June 2026 epicentre have been relatively infrequent over the past century. On 21 August 2018, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela’s northern coast, damaging dozens of buildings and causing multiple injuries across the country. More recently, in September 2025, magnitude 6.2 and 6.3 tremors near Mene Grande caused at least one death, injured more than 110 people, damaged homes and infrastructure, and were felt across several Venezuelan states and parts of Colombia.

Notable historical earthquakes include a 6.4 magnitude earthquake near Morón in 2009, which injured 18 people and damaged buildings, and a 6.0 magnitude event near Valencia in 1989 that caused minor damage. The most destructive modern earthquake in the wider region was the 1967 Caracas earthquake, which caused around 240 deaths, hundreds of injuries, collapsed several high-rise apartment buildings, and led to widespread destruction. Since 1900, at least five magnitude 7 or larger earthquakes have occurred in northern Venezuela or near its coast. However, it is highly likely that the damage, casualties and impact of the 24 June doublet earthquakes will be the worst in Venezuela in a century.

It is likely that aftershocks will be recorded near the epicentre in the short term. On 25 June, USGS assessed that there is a 94 per cent chance of at least one aftershock of magnitude 5 or above within the next week, and a 29 per cent chance of an aftershock of magnitude 6 or above. Even if lower-magnitude compared to the 24 June earthquake, aftershocks can still result in significant damage, causing critical failures in structures damaged during the initial shocks.

The death toll from the 24 June earthquakes will almost certainly considerably exceed the early estimates provided by the Venezuelan government. The impact of the tremors is highly likely to be compounded by the country’s poor disaster preparedness and emergency response infrastructure. Possible failures in government responses to the earthquakes could rapidly become catalysts for civil unrest in Venezuela, particularly as the country’s leadership has likely been destabilised by the US intervention that captured former President Maduro in January 2026. Previously a staunch geopolitical adversary of the US, Venezuela is now increasingly close to Washington as a result of the US intervention.

The economic impact will highly likely be severe and will fall on a state with minimal fiscal and institutional capacity to absorb it. Venezuela’s economy was already critically degraded prior to the earthquake, and the earthquake has had a severe impact on major economic hubs like the Caracas capital region. Acute humanitarian crisis, pre-existing economic crisis, destroyed utilities, and a transitional government which has contested legitimacy are all factors which could quickly materialise into an anti-government movement and violent civil unrest in the coming months.

Travel and Safety Guidance for Venezuela

Closely monitor local news reports and government alerts.
Expect aftershocks. Be prepared to Drop, Cover, Hold On in case of further tremors.
During a tremor, if outside, do not enter buildings and move away from buildings, trees, streetlights and overhead lines.
If inside, pick a safe place (under a sturdy table or desk, or against an interior wall and away from windows and heavy furniture). Do not leave until the shaking stops.
If evacuating a building, always use the stairs. Look out for fires and falling debris.
Adhere to all instructions issued by authorities.
Heed evacuation orders and travel to government-issued shelters if safe to do so.
Avoid coastal areas covered by tsunami warnings.
Ensure important documents and medications are appropriately stored.
Prepare an emergency ‘go bag’ with essentials such as bottled water, batteries, important documents, and medications.
Confirm booked flights are running prior to checking out of hotels or travelling to the airport.
Prepare for power outages, communication disruptions, and travel delays.
Stay away from damaged buildings and affected areas until authorities deem them safe.
Management should maintain communication with individuals affected until the event is concluded.