Venezuela struck by back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 quakes; buildings collapse in Caracas, USGS warns of heavy toll
Two powerful earthquakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing buildings to collapse in Caracas and sparking panic. The USGS warns of a potentially heavy death toll and extensive damage.
The quakes
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, June 24, 2026. The first, a magnitude 7.2 tremor, hit at 22:04 GMT at a depth of 21.9 kilometers, about 200 kilometers west of Caracas near Moron. Just 39 seconds later, a second, stronger quake of magnitude 7.5 struck 45 kilometers away at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS described the event as a "double event" and a "catastrophe that should have considerable magnitude."
- First earthquake: magnitude 7.2, depth 21.9 km
- Second earthquake: magnitude 7.5, depth 10 km
Impact in Caracas
In the capital, Caracas, several buildings collapsed, including a 22-story structure in the Altamira district that was completely destroyed. AFP journalists witnessed rescue workers pulling people from the rubble on stretchers and rushing them to ambulances. Volunteers climbed the debris, shouting the names of missing loved ones. Power outages were reported across the city, and panic spread as residents fled into the streets.
Official response
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello confirmed the collapse of multiple buildings and ordered the gas supply to be cut off to prevent further accidents.
Some structures were damaged and we want to avoid any gas-related accident.
Venezuelan authorities have not yet released an official casualty count.
USGS warnings
The USGS warned that a "heavy toll and significant damage are likely" and that the disaster "should have considerable magnitude." The agency estimated an initial death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000 people. The quakes were shallow, which typically amplifies destruction, and were felt as far away as Colombia.
Eyewitness accounts
Heidi Romero, a 42-year-old shopkeeper, was on the top floor of a busy shopping center in Altamira when the shaking began.
It was incredible, I don't even know how long it lasted. I was on the top floor and quite a few things fell.
She evacuated via the stairs as objects crashed around her. Many others described similar scenes of chaos and fear.
