Caribbean Issues Tsunami Alerts After 7.2 and 7.5 Quakes Strike Venezuela
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24
Caribbean Issues Tsunami Alerts After 7.2 and 7.5 Quakes Strike Venezuela
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24
Summary
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela less than a minute apart Wednesday evening — magnitude 7.2 near San Felipe at 6:04 p.m. local time, followed by a 7.5 shock.
The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, urging people to leave the water, beaches, harbors and inlets.
Tsunami waves were also considered possible along the coasts of Venezuela, Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba as monitoring agencies assessed the risk of damage from the back-to-back quakes.
U.S. Geological Survey data had initially listed the first quake at magnitude 7.1, and officials said magnitudes and shake maps could still be revised as seismologists review more information.
Aftershocks can continue for days, weeks or longer, including events as large as or larger than the initial quake, potentially worsening damage in affected areas.
For crisis-stricken Puerto Rico, is the greater threat the tsunami wave or its own fragile infrastructure?
After the huge CARIBE WAVE 2026 drill, how did the Caribbean's tsunami readiness actually perform?
With satellites now tracking tsunamis in detail, why does earthquake prediction remain a scientific mystery?
The June 24, 2026 Venezuela Earthquakes: Impact, Response, and Lessons for Seismic Preparedness
Overview
On June 24, 2026, Venezuela was hit by powerful earthquakes with magnitudes between 7.1 and 7.2, centered near Montalbán, a rural area that connects several of the country’s most populated cities. Because Montalbán is in a seismically active region, the tremors were felt strongly in major cities like Valencia and Caracas, leading to hasty evacuations and visible structural damage such as cracks in buildings. The immediate impact left many residents anxious about aftershocks, while authorities began assessing the situation and monitoring for further risks as the story continued to develop.