Two powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela, with high casualties feared
Two powerful earthquakes struck western Venezuela within moments of each other late on June 24, according to the US Geological Survey . The agency put the first at about magnitude 7.2 near San Felipe and the second at roughly magnitude 7.5 near Yumare, both centered some 280 to 290 kilometers west of the capital.
Shaking was strong enough to damage structures in Caracas, where witnesses described cracked walls, collapsing staircases and debris falling from ceilings. The USGS assessed that significant casualties were “probable,” though no official toll was available in the hours after the quakes.
Back-to-back shallow earthquakes of this magnitude carry a high risk of building collapse and aftershocks, and the distance at which damage was reported suggests broad exposure across populated areas. The scale of the human and structural impact will depend heavily on construction standards near the epicenters and on how quickly emergency services can reach affected towns.