Twin earthquakes kill more than 160 in northeastern Venezuela, USGS estimates toll could pass 1,000
A M7.2 at 22:05 UTC and a M7.5 shortly after struck Sucre state; PAGER red alert flags an 87% chance fatalities cross 1,000
Summary
Two earthquakes struck the Sucre state coast of northeastern Venezuela on June 24. The first, M7.2, hit at 22:05 UTC; a M7.5 followed within minutes. Venezuelan civil protection authorities confirmed at least 164 deaths and 971 injuries as of late evening. Usgs issued a PAGER red alert, its highest tier, estimating an 87% probability that the final death toll will exceed 1,000. The back-to-back shocks collapsed buildings and damaged roads along the Cumaná-area coast. Aid teams were mobilizing from across the Caribbean.
Why it matters
Venezuela's Infrastructure was already degraded before the quakes, limiting rescue capacity. The USGS red alert is a rare designation reserved for events of catastrophic probable scale. A toll above 1,000 would make this one of the deadliest earthquakes in South American history since 2010.
What to watch
- Updated casualty figures from Venezuela's civil protection ministry over the next 48 hours.
- Whether international aid corridors open quickly given Venezuela's political isolation.
- USGS PAGER final loss estimate once search-and-rescue operations conclude.