Lucy Jones Warns Venezuela Quakes Mirror San Andreas Risk, With 10% Code Failure Threshold
Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · Jun 26
Lucy Jones Warns Venezuela Quakes Mirror San Andreas Risk, With 10% Code Failure Threshold
3 articles · Updated · KABC-TV · Jun 26
Summary
Venezuela’s recent earthquakes offer a direct warning for Southern California because they struck a plate-boundary strike-slip fault like the San Andreas, seismologist Lucy Jones said.
Cajon Pass is a key concern: a rupture there could sever freeways, rail lines, water systems and power networks, while the strongest shaking could hit the Inland Empire and still heavily affect the Los Angeles Basin.
Liquefaction could amplify damage far from the fault, whipping high-rises even as many single-family homes ride out the shaking more flexibly.
10% is the building-code collapse threshold Jones highlighted, arguing stricter standards and newer construction still leave older unretrofitted buildings and critical urban systems vulnerable.
Rupture direction remains unpredictable—east to west, west to east, or both—underscoring that Southern California is not immune to the fires, outages and water disruptions seen in Venezuela.
With two faults now at their highest stress in 1000 years, could one quake trigger a multi-fault catastrophe?
Is your home in a hidden liquefaction zone, making it uninsurable and worthless after an earthquake?
Why might your neighbors be more critical to your survival than government aid after the next big quake?
Twin Earthquakes Devastate Venezuela: Lessons and Urgent Warnings for California’s San Andreas Fault Risk
Overview
On June 24, 2026, Venezuela was hit by two massive earthquakes, causing widespread devastation, especially in Caracas where people struggled over rubble. The disaster’s severe impact was due to the earthquakes’ proximity to the surface, dense population, and poor building quality. Essential services were overwhelmed, with hospitals urgently doubling shifts to handle the influx of injured. Authorities quickly cancelled classes to ensure safety. The full extent of damage was unclear, but initial reports confirmed dozens dead and hundreds injured, highlighting how quickly a natural disaster can strain a nation already facing challenges.