Venezuela Hit by Two Powerful Earthquakes in Minutes, Death Toll Could Reach Tens of Thousands

Venezuela was struck by two major earthquakes on June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 recorded within minutes of each other in the country’s northern and central regions. The powerful tremors caused significant damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in the capital city, Caracas, according to the Ministry of Interior.

In response to the disaster, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a nationwide state of emergency. Authorities also temporarily suspended operations at Caracas International Airport after the facility sustained damage during the earthquakes.

Preliminary estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicate that the number of fatalities could range between 10,000 and 100,000. However, Venezuelan officials have not yet released any confirmed casualty figures. Early assessments suggest that the economic impact of the disaster may amount to between 2% and 20% of the country’s GDP.

According to Reuters, the first earthquake struck at around 6:00 p.m. local time. Its epicenter was located approximately 28 kilometers west of the coastal city of Morón at a depth of 13 kilometers. A second, even stronger earthquake occurred near the same area less than a minute later.

Meanwhile, another significant seismic event was reported overnight on June 25 near the northeastern coast of Japan’s Honshu Island, where a magnitude 7.2 earthquake was also recorded.