Twin Earthquakes Strike Venezuela, Killing at Least 164 People; Largest in Over 125 Years
Two devastating earthquakes—a magnitude 7.2 followed by a 7.5—struck Venezuela on June 24, collapsing buildings across Caracas and killing at least 164 people. The US and international partners are deploying search and rescue teams to help with relief efforts.
Catastrophic Twin Quakes Hit Venezuela
On 24 June 2026, a Mw 7.2 foreshock struck western Venezuela shortly before being followed up by a Mw 7.5 mainshock about 40 seconds later. The mainshock was the largest recorded earthquake to strike Venezuela, and the strongest in over 125 years.
The devastating pair of earthquakes struck within seconds of each other on Wednesday evening local time. A pair of powerful earthquakes slammed Venezuela less than a minute apart Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital, Caracas, and leaving at least 164 people dead. At least 971 people were also injured, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said early Thursday following the temblors, updating an initial toll from an address to state media hours earlier.
Devastating Impact on Capital and Beyond
Dozens of buildings reportedly collapsed across Caracas, including a bank. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said that the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira municipalities were the worst-affected parts of the city. Simón Bolívar International Airport was damaged, and all flights departing from or arriving there were canceled. Buildings also collapsed in Trujillo, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda and La Guaira.
The USGS, using predictive modelling to estimate the death toll in the disaster, said it would most likely run into the thousands, with a substantial probability of exceeding 10,000.
International Response Mobilized
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that he's been in touch with acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez and that the US has deployed "search and rescue teams" following a 7.5-magnitude earthquake that rattled the country. "We're already deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles. There'll be some others we'll add," Rubio told reporters.
Rodríguez expressed condolences to Venezuelans who lost family members and noted that 20 aftershocks had been recorded. The USGS said that according to our forecast, there is a 94% chance of at least one magnitude 5 aftershock within the next week.