DMR cites Bocono Fault as Venezuela quakes kill 32 as US sends aid teams
Twin earthquakes in Venezuela linked to the Bocono Fault have killed at least 32 people and injured 700, according to interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, as the US confirms disaster assistance teams are being deployed amid warnings of potentially higher casualties.
Venezuela twin quakes kill 32 as US warns of mass casualty risk
Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources has attributed the devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela to movement along the Bocono Fault, as interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez confirmed at least 32 people have been killed and around 700 injured following the powerful seismic events and nearly two dozen aftershocks that collapsed buildings in Caracas and other regions.
The Geohazard Operation Centre under Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources said the seismic sequence began at 05.04am (Thailand time on June 25, 2026), when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck at a depth of 21.9 kilometres, followed just 40 seconds later by a shallower and more powerful magnitude 7.5 quake at 10 kilometres depth. The agency said the rapid succession of events significantly amplified destruction on the ground.
Bocono Fault rupture triggers destructive seismic sequence
Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources said geological data pointed to sudden movement along the Bocono Fault, a right-lateral strike-slip fault system. The abrupt displacement released vast tectonic energy, producing intense shaking that flattened structures in heavily affected zones.
The shallow depth of the second quake intensified surface shaking, leading to the rapid collapse of residential and high-rise buildings in vulnerable areas.
Delcy Rodríguez confirms casualties as aftershocks continue
Interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez said at least 32 people had been killed and approximately 700 injured following the twin earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks.
She said nearly two dozen aftershocks compounded damage, particularly in Caracas and surrounding regions, where buildings and infrastructure were already severely weakened by the initial tremors.
Emergency teams continued search-and-rescue operations across multiple states as authorities warned that the casualty figures could still rise.
USGS issues red alert warning of catastrophic losses
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the two earthquakes as major seismic events of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 occurring within seconds of each other, describing the second quake as one of the strongest in the region in recent history.
Through its PAGER system, the USGS issued a red alert, estimating a 44% probability of more than 10,000 deaths and a 30% probability that fatalities could exceed 100,000, depending on structural vulnerability and population exposure.
Caracas and western Venezuela among hardest hit
The epicentre near San Felipe in Yaracuy State placed Caracas, located roughly 28 kilometres away, among the worst affected urban centres. Reports indicated widespread building collapses, disrupted fuel supplies and residents trapped under rubble sending distress signals.
The quake zone also impacted areas near Morón, a key petroleum industrial hub, with widespread infrastructure strain reported across multiple states including Yaracuy, Lara, Mérida, Aragua, Carabobo, La Guaira and Miranda.
Reuters reported that emergency services were deployed rapidly as authorities assessed the scale of destruction and continued rescue operations amid ongoing aftershocks.
US deploys disaster assistance and rescue teams
The United States State Department said it has mobilised a disaster assistance team and task force to coordinate emergency relief efforts.
“Working with our partners in the interim Venezuelan government, the US will be sending search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the crucial first days after this tragic natural disaster,” it said.
The USGS noted that much of the affected population lives in highly vulnerable structures, including unreinforced masonry and adobe buildings, which are particularly prone to collapse during strong shaking.
Regional tremors and ongoing risk assessment
The earthquakes were also felt across neighbouring Colombia, causing alarm in border regions as aftershocks continued.
Authorities and international agencies warned that further seismic activity remained possible, with continued structural instability posing ongoing risks to affected communities.
No impact on Thailand confirmed
Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources confirmed that the seismic events in Venezuela have no impact on Thailand due to the large geographical distance between the two countries, while monitoring of global seismic activity continues.
