Two Rare Earthquakes Strike Venezuela 39 Seconds Apart
4 verified5 unconfirmed1 contested
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within less than a minute of each other, causing widespread damage and a search for survivors. The first earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 and was followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5-magnitude tremor, an event scientists describe as a rare seismic doublet. The quakes occurred near the town of Yumare, approximately 160 kilometers west of Caracas, and were felt across much of northern Venezuela and several Caribbean countries. Experts cited in multiple reports suggest the first earthquake likely transferred stress to a nearby fault, triggering the second. Search and rescue operations are underway as the full extent of the destruction continues to be assessed. The sequence has prompted analysis of regional fault systems and earthquake preparedness.
What’s verified
Two earthquakes with magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela within 39 seconds of each other.
The event is described as a rare seismic doublet.
Experts cited in multiple reports suggest the first earthquake transferred stress to another fault, triggering the second.
Search and rescue operations are underway for survivors.
Where accounts differ
Sources disagree on the magnitudes of the earthquakes. Some reports indicate a single 7.1-magnitude event, while others report a 7.2-magnitude earthquake followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake.
Not yet confirmed
Official casualty figures: one report states at least 164 dead and nearly 1,000 injured; no other source provides casualty numbers.
The USGS estimate that the final death toll could range from 10,000 to 100,000, according to one report.
Venezuela's declaration of a national emergency is reported by only one source.
The depths of the earthquakes (20.3 km and 10 km) are reported by only one source.
Whether these earthquakes are related to other earthquakes in Japan and California on the same day is addressed by only one source, which states they are unrelated.
Key figures
William Barnhart (geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey), Chris Goldfinger (paleoseismologist, Oregon State University), Mark Allen (professor, Durham University).
