A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook Venezuela and its impact was felt in Caracas. Buildings in the country’s capital suffered structural collapses.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), two distinct earthquakes were recorded, whose epicenters were approximately 5 kilometers apart. The magnitudes of these events were 7.2 and 7.5.
The USGS issued a concerning warning, indicating the potential for thousands of deaths. The institution stated that “it is likely that there will be a high number of victims and extensive damage, and the disaster is likely to be widespread”, predicting a scenario of great devastation.
The center of the most intense tremor was located in the city of Montalbán, Venezuela, 168 km from the capital. The focus of the earthquake was recorded at a depth of 13 kilometers, according to USGS data.
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake just struck Altamira, Caracas, Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/wFsX2GwrHs— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) June 24, 2026
The effects of the earthquake also extended to the northern region of Brazil, reaching cities such as Manaus, Belém do Pará, Amapá and Roraima. In these locations, residents also evacuated some buildings.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told state television that “some buildings collapsed (in Caracas) and houses collapsed.” Cabello highlighted that there were still no preliminary estimates of victims or injuries, stating that protocols to collect data were ongoing.
Simón Bolívar International Airport, considered the main Venezuelan air terminal, also recorded impacts on its structure due to the earthquake.
Initially, tsunami warnings were issued for the Caribbean islands, however, they were later canceled by authorities.
In a separate seismic event, another earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.9, was reported on Japan’s main island, Honshu.
The Reuters agency reported that the inhabitants of Caracas quickly sought to evacuate their buildings as the tremor shook the structures. A person who witnessed the scene described the appearance of cracks on the outside of his property.
A large portion of the Venezuelan population was at home at the time of the earthquake, immersed in the celebrations of a national holiday. The date commemorates a military victory in 1821, which sealed Venezuela’s independence from Spanish rule.
After the main event, a series of aftershocks were felt in several areas, including portions of Colombian territory.
The Venezuelan capital experienced its last major earthquake on July 29, 1967. That shock, measuring 6.6 magnitude, resulted in estimates of 225 to 300 fatalities and more than 1,500 injuries, according to records at the time.