Two powerful earthquakes—measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale—struck Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, killing at least 164 people, injuring nearly 1,000, and leaving more than 10,000 missing. These are the deadliest quakes to hit the country since 1997, when a major tremor in Sucre state killed 73 people and injured hundreds.
Widespread Devastation
Scenes of despair unfolded across Venezuela in the aftermath of the twin quakes. In the capital Caracas and the neighboring state of La Guaira, terrified residents flooded streets amid collapsed buildings and rubble. Rescue operations continue nonstop as fears mount that the death toll could rise into the thousands with daylight breaking.
The Simón Bolívar International Airport has sustained severe damage and is temporarily closed. Widespread power outages and mobile network failures have affected large parts of Caracas.
A History of Major Quakes
One of Venezuela’s most destructive earthquakes occurred in July 1967 near Caracas, claiming 245 lives, injuring thousands, and causing extensive material damage.
Major Earthquakes in Venezuela (1929–2026)
January 17, 1929: A 6.9-magnitude quake triggered a tsunami that devastated the city of Cumaná in Sucre state, killing around 800 people.
August 3, 1950: A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck El Tocuyo in Lara state—near the country’s center—killing approximately 100 people and virtually destroying the town.
July 29, 1967: A 6.6-magnitude quake near Caracas was followed by a small tsunami, resulting in 245 deaths, thousands of injuries, and massive infrastructure damage.
July 9, 1997: A 6.9-magnitude quake hit Venezuela’s eastern coast—particularly affecting Cumaná and the Cariaco area in Sucre state—leaving 73 dead, about 500 injured, and 3,000 displaced. Torrential rains worsened conditions following the tremor.
November 2015: Two 5.1-magnitude quakes struck Mérida in northwestern Venezuela, each causing one fatality.
Over the past decade, several other earthquakes have occurred across Venezuela—most causing no casualties or significant damage. The strongest among them, recorded on August 21, 2018, was widely felt across multiple states and caused structural damage in Caracas and eastern regions.
In September 2025, western Venezuela—including Zulia state—experienced 189 seismic events, damaging homes, hospitals, churches, bridges, streetlights, and electricity networks.