Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela minutes apart on Wednesday, collapsing buildings in the capital, Caracas. The US Geological Survey said a magnitude 7.1 quake hit near Morón at a depth of 13 km, followed one minute later by a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake 16 km southwest of the town at 10 km depth.
Issued on: 25/06/2026
By: FRANCE 24
Back-to-back powerful earthquakes slammed Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas.
The US Geological Survey said the first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 and its epicenter was west of the community of Morón, located along the country’s Caribbean coast, about 168 kilometers (104 miles) west of Caracas. The quake had a depth of 13 kilometers (8 miles).
The USGS reported an even larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake just a minute later. The second quake had a depth of 10 kilometers and its epicenter was 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of Morón.
The quakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for Virgin Islands. Authorities in the Dominican Republic also issued one for the island. Another alert for Puerto Rico was quickly lifted.
People evacuated swaying buildings in Caracas and remained outside, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls that had collapsed, making furniture visible from the street. Dust columns could also be seen in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are typically busy.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the quake could be felt in several states. The Altamira neighborhood in Caracas had “alarming situations” with collapsed homes and buildings, he said, suggesting people were injured in the earthquake and asking motorists to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
“We understand that some people may be desperate, but we are acting according to protocols to activate aid and rescue efforts to help those who need it most,” Cabello said on state television. “Be very careful with children and the elderly; call each other and check that no one has been harmed.”
He also urged people to remain outside as aftershocks could further damage some structures.
“The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong,” Caracas resident Roberto Damas said. “We were walking and it was tossing us around. Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
Venezuela rocked by two major earthquakes
Two of the most powerful earthquakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century struck within minutes of each other on June 24, damaging buildings in Caracas, triggering evacuations and raising fears of significant casualties, La Nación reported.
The seismic events, recorded at magnitudes 7.1 and 7.5, occurred about a minute apart near Morón, west of the Venezuelan capital. The first quake originated 13 kilometres below the surface, followed by a second at a depth of 10 kilometres. Officials have yet to release casualty figures in the immediate aftermath.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said emergency services, security forces and civil protection teams had been deployed following reports of collapsed structures across Caracas. He highlighted particularly serious incidents in the Altamira area and advised residents to remain outside while authorities evaluated the stability of affected buildings and monitored continuing aftershocks.
The earthquakes prompted a temporary tsunami alert for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, although the warning was later withdrawn. The US Geological Survey cautioned that the event carried the potential for substantial loss of life.
Across the capital, office towers and apartment blocks swayed violently, triggering precautionary evacuations. Electricity service was interrupted in some districts, while tremors were reported beyond Venezuela’s borders, including in Colombia.
Witness accounts described chaotic scenes as shoppers, workers and residents rushed from buildings. In Altamira, merchandise fell from shelves and crowds poured out of a shopping complex as the ground shook. Elsewhere, people gathered in open spaces, seeking distance from structures that showed visible signs of damage.
Video footage circulating after the quake showed cracked façades, collapsed walls and debris scattered onto city streets. Dust clouds rose above several neighbourhoods, while recordings from inside homes captured furniture and household items being thrown from shelves during the shaking.
The back-to-back earthquakes rank among the most powerful recorded in Venezuela in more than 100 years. Their magnitude places them alongside some of the country’s most significant seismic events, including the San Narciso earthquake of 1900 and the Sucre earthquake of 2018.
This is a developing story - more to follow.
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