Venezuela Earthquake Damage
Powerful 7.1-Magnitude Earthquake Collapses Buildings in Venezuela's Capital, Aftershocks Feared
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A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings in the capital Caracas and triggering a tsunami warning across the Caribbean. WAFB reported the quake's epicenter was near Moron, about 168 kilometers west of Caracas, at a shallow depth of just 10 to 13 kilometers — meaning more energy hit the surface directly.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello warned that aftershocks could "potentially damage structures" and flagged the Altamira neighborhood as having "alarming situations with collapsed homes and buildings," Valley News Live reported. Casualties remained unknown late Wednesday, though eyewitnesses described people trapped under rubble.
Buildings Fall in Altamira as Caracas Shakes Violently
The quake struck at 3:04 PM local time and was felt across Venezuela and into neighboring Colombia and the Dutch islands of Aruba and Curaçao. The USGS recorded it at 7.1 magnitude. Max shaking intensity reached MMI IX — rated "violent" on the standard scale used to measure damage, according to WBNG.
Dust clouds rose over Caracas as residents evacuated high-rise buildings. The Altamira neighborhood saw the worst of it, with walls and structures visibly collapsed from the street. Cabello confirmed "alarming situations" there in a televised address at 6:30 PM, ordering citizens to stay outdoors, AZ Family reported.
Tsunami Warning Issued for Caribbean Coasts After Quake
Within minutes of the main shock, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat for the coasts of Venezuela, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. A separate tsunami advisory was activated for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Local authorities began monitoring tide gauges across the northern Caribbean.
The shallow depth of the quake — just 10 to 13 kilometers — is the key reason the threat extended so far, WAFF reported. Shallow quakes transfer far more energy to the ocean floor than deep ones. A 7.3-magnitude quake in 2018 caused limited damage partly because it struck at 123 kilometers deep.
Venezuela Sits on One of the World's Most Active Fault Lines
Venezuela lies at the collision zone between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. The Boconó fault system runs through the country and is the likely source of Wednesday's quake. A precursor 4.5-magnitude tremor struck near Guanare on June 17, a week before the main event, signaling rising stress in the fault.
The 1812 Caracas earthquake — also linked to this fault system — measured 7.7 magnitude and killed roughly 15,000 people. Wednesday's quake was smaller, but its shallow depth made it far more destructive at the surface than its magnitude alone would suggest, WBNG noted.
Aftershock Risk Looms Over an Already Fragile Capital
Minister Cabello urged Venezuelans to stay away from damaged buildings and expect more shaking. Aftershocks following a 7.1-magnitude event can themselves reach magnitude 6.0 or higher. Analysts have long warned that many Caracas buildings — including unfinished high-rises and aging residential blocks in Altamira — were poorly prepared for a shallow quake of this size.
The disaster is also a political test. The government is managing recovery amid ongoing instability, and questions are already being raised about Venezuela's Civil Defense capacity. Whether officials open the door to international aid will be closely watched in the coming days, AZ Family reported.
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