Two devastating earthquakes struck one minute apart on June 24 in northern Venezuela, a Caribbean country with a long and dangerous history of earthquakes, killing at least 188 people and injuring nearly 1,500.
The U.S. Geological Survey used predictive models to estimate the death toll and said the death toll would most likely be in the thousands, with a fair chance of exceeding 10,000. According to Reuters, about 24,000 people remain missing, according to a website set up by opposition leaders to track missing people.
The two earthquakes, magnitude 7.2 and magnitude 7.5, occurred just after 6pm local time. These were the two most powerful earthquakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century.
Earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 to 7.9 are considered major and can cause severe damage over a wide area.
Venezuela is vulnerable to powerful earthquakes because it lies on an active tectonic boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates. Two giant plates rub against each other, creating stresses on several large faults.
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What is a double earthquake?
The Venezuelan earthquakes were significant because, in addition to their size, they occurred at close intervals, less than a minute apart. This is a phenomenon known as a doublet.
Analysis by the USGS suggests the quake originated from a different fault.
Double earthquakes are rare. According to the USGS, there is a 5% chance that two large earthquakes in a series will be within 0.2 units of magnitude. Doublets can significantly increase damage when shaken for extended periods or repeatedly.
What causes the earthquake in Venezuela?
According to the National Science Foundation, tectonic plates are huge sections of the Earth’s crust that fit together like cracked puzzle pieces. They constantly move and rub against each other in areas known as plate boundaries.
The movement and wear of plates creates stress along faults that can be suddenly released during an earthquake.
Venezuela is prone to earthquakes because the movement between the Caribbean and South American plates puts pressure on several major seismic faults, including:
- San Sebastian Fault It flows along and offshore the north-central coast of Venezuela. It is located near the capital Caracas, near the Caracas La Guaira region.
- El Pilar fault system It runs roughly east-west through northeastern Venezuela. It is located near the province of Sucre and the Cariaco Gulf region.
- Bokono Fault It passes through the Venezuelan Andes Mountains in western Venezuela and northeastern Colombia. It is associated with historic earthquakes in this country.
The worst-hit area was La Guaira state, near Caracas and where the airport is located.
Earthquake size explains severity
Other earthquakes that occurred on June 24th
California magnitude 5.6 earthquake
earthquake in japan
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, said rescue teams from other countries would arrive soon and thanked leaders, including President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Trump called the number of deaths “catastrophic.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said rescue teams were on the way and the Pentagon would send supplies to affected airports.
Contributor Thao Nguyen, Fernando Cervantes Jr.
SOURCE USA TODAY NETWORK REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. Reuters; United States Geological Survey; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. National Science Foundation
