Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck northern Venezuela on June 24 2026 collapsing buildings in Caracas where residents described panic and called it the strongest quake they had ever felt. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the tremors hit seconds apart west of the capital leading to at least 32 deaths and more than 700 injuries as a state of emergency was declared according to Reuters and Al Jazeera. Rescue operations continued with international aid mobilized by the United States and several Latin American countries the New York Times reported.
The quakes originated in Yaracuy state with the first 7.2 event near San Felipe followed about 40 seconds later by the 7.5 mainshock southeast of Yumare according to USGS data compiled by Reuters. The agency initially assessed a strong likelihood of casualties exceeding 10 000 though Venezuelan officials provided the lower confirmed toll. At least 20 aftershocks were recorded in the following hours acting President Delcy Rodriguez stated in a national address covered by Al Jazeera. The 7.5-magnitude event was the largest to strike the country or its coast since 1900 a New York Times review of USGS records found.
BBC coverage featured multiple eyewitness accounts from the capital where people fled into streets amid the chaos. Nicole Kolster told the BBC “I saw the windows moving and the only thing I could think to do was to get between the front door and a stone wall to try to protect myself.” She added “It’s the strongest quake I’ve ever felt in my life. It was so strong that I thought the building was going to fall on top of me. An hour after the quake everyone is still outside waiting for safety in case there’s an aftershock.” Calls for help came from people trapped in rubble nearby the report added.
Maria Romero an 80-year-old pensioner told the BBC “This earthquake was horrible even worse than the one in 1967.” That earlier 6.6-magnitude event killed more than 200 people and destroyed structures in the Palos Grandes and Altamira areas of Caracas according to historical accounts referenced in the coverage. Coro Martinez described to Reuters “There was a very loud crash. Things fell in the house jugs inside the refrigerator. I’ve never experienced anything like it.” Maria Elise reported cracked walls fallen utility poles and outages of electricity and mobile signals in her neighborhood the BBC noted.
Damage proved especially severe in the Los Palos Grandes and Altamira municipalities of Caracas Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said according to official updates summarized by multiple outlets. Dozens of buildings collapsed across the city with rescue teams working to free those trapped under debris Reuters reported. Residents remained outdoors fearing further aftershocks while power and communications disruptions compounded difficulties in the immediate aftermath Al Jazeera coverage indicated.
The events took place on a national holiday marking the 1821 Battle of Carabobo yet many people were at home when the shaking began the BBC observed. Rodriguez declared the state of emergency and reported the sequence of the two consecutive quakes in her address. Offers of assistance from abroad arrived quickly as the extent of destruction across central and northern regions continued to be assessed in the days after the disaster according to the New York Times.
