Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, just after 6 p.m. local time. The first quake registered a magnitude between 7.1 and 7.2, followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5 tremor. Both epicenters were located about 160-168 kilometers west of Caracas near Morón at depths of 10-13 kilometers along the Caribbean coast [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9].

The shaking caused multiple residential and commercial buildings to collapse across Caracas. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello described "very alarming areas from the visual point of view, with buildings and homes that have collapsed." He urged residents to stay outdoors because aftershocks could bring down damaged structures [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. One local, Roberto Damas, said, "The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong... Everything in the apartment fell. Well, thank God we were able to get out." Journalist Nicole Kolster called it "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" [3, 4, 5].

Maiquetía International Airport, the capital's main air hub, sustained significant damage affecting operations [1, 2, 4]. Residents in Caracas also reported power outages, collapsed utility poles, and disrupted communications [3, 6]. Rescue teams mobilized with stretchers to help people trapped under rubble [4, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Cabello said authorities were following protocols to activate aid for the most affected and urged people to check on vulnerable neighbors [5].

The quakes occurred during a national holiday commemorating the 1821 Battle of Carabobo. The U.S. Geological Survey issued initial casualty estimates ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 deaths, though those figures remain preliminary [6, 7, 8]. Tsunami warnings were briefly issued for Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire but were later lifted [8, 9, 10].

The event was felt more strongly than the 1967 magnitude 6.3 quake that hit Caracas [3, 6, 8]. Venezuelan officials declared a state of emergency and began coordinating rescue and relief efforts [2, 11, 12, 6].

Tsunami warnings were withdrawn on June 25 as conditions stabilized [8, 9, 10]. Recovery operations and damage assessments continue throughout Caracas and surrounding areas.