On 24 June 2026, doublet large strike-slip earthquakes affected northwestern and central Venezuela. The epicenter of the first earthquake was in Veroes Municipality, west of San Felipe, the capital city of Yaracuy. This earthquake, which measured Mw 7.2, occurred at 18:04 VET and was classified as a foreshock. It was followed by a Mw 7.5 mainshock 30 seconds later centered off the coast of La Guaira, west of Catia La Mar. The two earthquakes caused widespread damage across the country, particularly in the capital Caracas and especially the state of La Guaira, where 80% of buildings collapsed. As of August 2026, more than 6,500 people were reported dead, about 226,700 were injured or hospitalized, and tens of thousands still remain missing.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system predicted the death toll could be significantly higher than the initial reports, potentially exceeding 10,000. The mainshock was the strongest in Venezuela since the 1900 San Narciso earthquake.
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