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On June 24, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession. The first hit at a magnitude of 7.1 near the town of Montalbán. Less than a minute later, a second, even stronger quake followed. This second earthquake reached a magnitude of 7.5. Experts later revised the magnitude of the first earthquake to 7.2. These twin shocks were not a random coincidence. They were caused by movements along two interconnected fault systems. These faults sit at the boundary where the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates meet.
Qu Guosheng, the former chief engineer of the China Earthquake Emergency Search and Rescue Center, explained the mechanics of the event. He stated that the first magnitude-7.2 earthquake occurred along the Central Range Fault. This is a thrust strike-slip fault located at the eastern end of the Andes Mountains. The rupture from this initial quake propagated northeastward. This movement subsequently triggered activity along a different fault system known as the Boconó-San Sebastián-El Pilar fault zone. This second zone is an east-west trending strike-slip fault. The interaction between these two fault lines resulted in the second earthquake.
Sergio Barrientos, the director of the National Seismological Center at the University of Chile, provided historical context. He noted that Caracas and its surrounding areas have a long history of major earthquakes. The region sits directly along the boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates. This geological location makes it prone to significant seismic activity. Major earthquakes struck Caracas in 1812, 1900, and 1967. These historical events demonstrate that the region is no stranger to powerful ground shaking.