DESTRUCTIVE M7.5 Earthquake hit near Valencia in Venezuela on Wednesday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on June 24th, 2026. Last updated June 25th, 2026.

A DESTRUCTIVE and very strong Magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck under land 59 kilometer from Valencia in Venezuela in the evening of Wednesday June 24th, 2026. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Earthquakes this strong in locations like this are likely to cause a high number of fatalities and likely to have a large economic impact. Aruba is also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Venezuela, 59 kilometer (37 mi) northwest of Valencia in Carabobo. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Jun 24, 2026 06:05PM (Caracas Time) - Jun 24, 2026 22:05 Universal Time.
Location:	59 km NW of Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. Coordinates 10°26'6"N 68°28'18"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 7.5 Detected by 75 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.036 .
Depth:	10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	IX Violent On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low Tsunami Risk Mag 6.5+ earthquakes at shallow depth can cause tsunami's, but this epicenter appears to have hit under land, making this less likely. Always stay cautious - More info here.

High fatalities and economic impact

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level RED (high). They expect an 42% likelyhood of between 10,000 and 100,000 fatalities, and a 92% chance that the number of fatalities falls between 1,000 and 10,000,000.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level RED (high). They expect an 53% likelyhood of between 10,000 and 100,000 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 97% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls between 1,000 and 10,000,000 million USD.

Roughly 30 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 30 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IX, which corresponds with violent shaking and likely heavy damage. Roughly 29,120 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level IV was experienced by a large group of people (around 12 million). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 4 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Venezuela , around 29 million people, with impact levels up to IX (violent shaking, likely heavy damage). A smaller number of people were exposed in the following countries: Caribbean Netherlands, Colombia and Aruba.

Nearby towns and cities

5 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Venezuela and Aruba . Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Yumare in Yaracuy, Venezuela. Yumare is located 28 kilometer (17 mi) south-east of the epicenter. Yumare experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly VIII. That level implies severe shaking and likely moderate to heavy damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Valencia is located 59 km to the south-east and experienced an intensity of VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). Maracay is located 99 km to the east and experienced an intensity of VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). Caracas is located 174 km to the east and experienced an intensity of VII (very strong shaking, likely moderate damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is IX.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 377 people in 11 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 377 people have reported shaking in 95 places in 11 countries (Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Netherlands Antilles, Guyana, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Cuba, Aruba, Saint Lucia, Turks and Caicos Islands).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Chacao, Miranda, Venezuela: 52 people.
• Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela: 24 people.
• Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela: 19 people.
• Baruta, Miranda, Venezuela: 16 people.
• Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: 13 people.
• Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela: 13 people.
• El Hatillo, Miranda, Venezuela: 12 people.
• Puerto la Cruz, Anzoátegui, Venezuela: 11 people.
• La Dolorita, Miranda, Venezuela: 9 people.
• Palo Negro, Aragua, Venezuela: 9 people.

Aftershocks detected

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit 39 sec earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 7.5 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

Low Tsunami Risk

There is a low tsunami risk following this earthquake, as it appears the epicenter was under land far away from the coast. However this was a very strong earthquake at a shallow depth that would have a very high risk at causing tsunami's if it would have occurred under sea. Stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 25/06/26 08:48 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000t7zp
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260624_0000396
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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