Northwestern Venezuela was rocked by a series of strong earthquakes beginning on the evening of September 24, 2025, sending tremors across the region and sparking memories of the country’s seismic past. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the initial and most powerful quake struck at approximately 6:21 p.m. local time, registering a magnitude of 6.2 and centered just southeast of Maracaibo, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the oil town of Mene Grande in Zulia state. The quake’s shallow depth—measured at just 7.8 kilometers (5 miles)—amplified the shaking, which was felt by nearly 230,000 people in the immediate area and reverberated through major cities, including Maracaibo and Barquisimeto.
Reports from the USGS and corroborated by BNO News and The Economic Times indicate that the tremors were not confined to Venezuela alone. Felt reports streamed in from as far afield as Caracas, the nation’s capital, and across the border in Colombia. The Colombian Geological Survey measured the main shock at magnitude 6.1, classifying it as a “shallow depth” event. The shaking also reached the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, underscoring the quake’s regional impact.
As the ground rumbled, alarmed residents poured into the streets in cities such as Caracas and Maracaibo. Roberth Romero, a resident near Barquisimeto, described the moment to BNO News: “I was walking around in my house, then I felt like a wave under my feet and I saw everything moving.” The sense of urgency was palpable, with people abandoning homes and offices, seeking safety in open spaces as uncertainty loomed.
The seismic activity did not stop with the initial shock. The USGS and The New York Times reported a restless night of aftershocks and additional quakes. A 4.9-magnitude tremor struck Zulia at 10:42 p.m., followed by a 6.3-magnitude quake in Trujillo state at 11:51 p.m., and a 5.8-magnitude event in the early hours of September 25. Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, told state television that two dozen smaller earthquakes and aftershocks were recorded overnight, prompting the government to remain on high alert. “The nation was on high alert but there were no reports of casualties,” she said, providing a measure of reassurance amid the ongoing uncertainty.
Despite the intensity of the shaking and the broad area affected, official statements from Venezuelan authorities were quick to note the absence of major casualties or catastrophic destruction. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello stated on state television, as quoted by AFP, that the quake was “without significant structural damage.” Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez cited two smaller quakes in Zulia and Barinas states but did not reference the USGS’s higher magnitude readings. Still, images and videos circulated on social media showed damage to buildings and roads, particularly in Zulia, and prompted further evacuations—especially in areas near the Santa Bárbara church in Maracaibo, where local authorities were assessing the situation.
The epicenter’s proximity to Lake Maracaibo—a crucial hub for Venezuela’s oil industry—added another layer of concern. Mene Grande, the nearest town to the epicenter, sits in a sparsely populated but economically vital region, home to the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, estimated at roughly 303 billion barrels as of 2023–2024. While the area’s population density may have limited the immediate impact, the potential for disruptions to oil infrastructure remains a significant worry for both local and international stakeholders.
The earthquake’s effects rippled across borders as well. In Colombia, Mayor Fico Gutiérrez of Medellín reported strong shaking but no immediate damage, while Mayor Jaime Andrés Beltrán of Bucaramanga placed authorities on high alert in case rescues were needed. The Colombian Geological Survey’s measurements and warnings reflected the cross-border nature of the seismic event, with authorities on both sides of the frontier working to assess risks and coordinate responses.
Seismologists have long warned of Venezuela’s vulnerability to earthquakes due to its position along the southern boundary of the Caribbean plate, where it interacts with the South American plate. Major faults crisscross northern Venezuela, and while strong earthquakes are relatively rare, the country’s seismic history is sobering. About 80% of Venezuelans live in seismic zones, and the last major deadly quake occurred in 1997, when 73 people were killed in Cariaco, Sucre state. An even earlier disaster in 1976 saw nearly 300 killed and 2,000 injured when a quake struck Caracas. These events remain etched in the national memory and inform both public anxiety and governmental preparedness.
Adding to the complexity, Venezuela’s own Funvisis seismological research body offered a lower magnitude reading for the main tremor, putting it at 5.4, while the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) in India reported a 6.2-magnitude event at a slightly different time and location, with no official reports of casualties or significant damage. Such discrepancies in magnitude and timing are not uncommon in the immediate aftermath of seismic events, as different agencies rely on varied methodologies and data sources.
Throughout the night and into Thursday morning, state-run television in Venezuela continued its programming, including a science segment led by President Nicolás Maduro, according to the Associated Press. This calm public face may have helped to steady nerves, even as aftershocks rattled nerves and sent people back out into the streets.
In the aftermath, local officials like Zulia’s governor, Luis Gerardo Caldera, took to social media to provide updates and reassure residents that damage assessments were underway. The government’s emphasis on high alert status, combined with the lack of immediate casualties, suggests that preparedness measures and public awareness campaigns may have played a role in limiting harm.
As the dust settles, Venezuela faces the familiar challenge of balancing its economic lifeblood—the oil industry centered around Lake Maracaibo—with the ever-present risk of seismic disaster. While this latest series of earthquakes appears to have spared the country the worst-case scenario, it serves as a stark reminder that, in a region shaped by geological forces, vigilance and resilience are always in order.
For now, residents across Venezuela and neighboring Colombia are counting their blessings, surveying the damage, and bracing for whatever aftershocks may come next. The earth may have quieted, but its message was loud and clear: nature’s unpredictability is never far from the surface.