The twin tremors occurred just after 6:00 p.m. local time on June 24. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the disaster began at 6:04 p.m. with a magnitude 7.2 foreshock at a depth of 22 kilometers. Exactly 39 seconds later, a more violent magnitude 7.5 mainshock ripped through the same fault line at a shallower, more destructive depth of 10 kilometers.
Both epicenters were located in the Veroes municipality of Yaracuy State, roughly 100 miles west of the capital.
The powerful shaking sent frightened residents rushing into the streets as buildings swayed and emergency services began responding to reports of damage. More than 20 aftershocks were recorded within the first few hours, keeping traumatized residents on edge.
Authorities declared a state of emergency and launched rescue operations in the affected areas. In a late-night national address, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that at least 32 people had been killed and over 700 injured.
She warned that the casualty toll is expected to increase sharply, noting that the initial numbers strictly exclude data from the coastal state of La Guaira, which has been designated a total disaster zone.
The earthquakes were felt across much of northern Venezuela, with some of the most significant impacts reported in and around Caracas and neighboring La Guaira.
In the capital, the eastern municipalities of Chacao, Altamira, and Los Palos Grandes bore the brunt of the structural devastation. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reported that dozens of structures collapsed across Caracas, including a 22-story residential high-rise in Altamira that pancaked entirely.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as residents evacuated homes, offices, and businesses while emergency responders worked to reach those trapped beneath debris.
Government officials said rescue workers, medical personnel, and security forces had been deployed to support affected communities. Hospitals received large numbers of injured people, while authorities urged citizens to remain alert in case of further aftershocks.
The disaster struck during a national holiday commemorating the historic Battle of Carabobo, a day when many Venezuelans were gathered with family and friends. As a result, large numbers of people were at home when the earthquakes occurred, which local officials note heavily exposed residential apartment complexes to high casualty risks.
The tremors also disrupted transportation and public services across the country, knocking out power lines and cutting off telecommunications in major sectors of Caracas.
Crucially, the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía sustained severe structural damage to its walls and columns, forcing authorities to suspend all inbound and outbound flights indefinitely while engineers assess the safety of the runways and terminals.
A tsunami advisory was briefly issued for parts of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, following the marine-adjacent rupture, but it was later lifted after ocean experts determined there was no significant wave threat.
Seismologists noted that Venezuela lies in an active strike-slip fault zone straddling the Caribbean and South American plates, making the country highly vulnerable to seismic activity. While major tremors are relatively rare, the USGS issued a high-severity red alert for the region, estimating a 39% probability that final fatalities could eventually climb between 1,000 and 10,000 due to the scale of dense urban collapses.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, Venezuelans are coming together to support those affected by the tragedy. Authorities have pledged to provide emergency assistance and continue search operations until all impacted areas have been thoroughly assessed.
