Earthquake measuring at least magnitude 6.1 rocks Venezuela

Northwest Venezuela has experienced tremors across the South American nation, including the capital Caracas, as a result of an earthquake that is at least 6.1 on the Richter scale, according to several geological research organizations.

Tremors were felt across the border in neighboring Colombia, along with residential and office buildings that had been evacuated along the border, as well as in several other Venezuelan states.

No injuries or damages have yet been reported.

The epicentre of the earthquake, according to the USGS, is located 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of Venezuela’s capital Caracas, in Zulia state, which is located about 600 kilometers (370 miles) west of the city of Mene Grande.

The earthquake was reportedly at 7.8 kilometers (5 miles) in depth according to the USGS.

The region of Venezuela’s oil industry is significant because of the town of Mene Grande, which is situated on the eastern coast of Lake Maracaibo in the country’s northwest. The country in South America has the largest proven oil reserves in the world.

The earthquake was described as “shallow depth” by the Colombian Geological Survey, while the German Research Center for Geosciences recorded it as 6.31 and struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles).

#SismosColombiaSGC Evento Sísmico Internacional – Boletín Actualizado 1, 2025-09-24, 17: 21 hora local. Mene Grande, Venezuela #NoticiaEnDesarrollo #Temblor #Sismo Más información: https://t.co/h4VVP0556L pic. twitter.com/e326NsGzX1

Freddy Nanez, the communications minister for Venezuela, reported two earthquakes of magnitudes 3. 0 and 5. 5.4, according to the state’s Venezuelan Foundation for Technological Research.

The stronger of the two, according to Nanez, rocked Zulia state while the other one, Barinas, rocked. He did not address the USGS-recorded earthquake.

About 80% of Venezuela’s population lives in active seismic zones, which is close to a number of fault lines brought on by the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.