15 Deadly Faults Splitting the Americas, a Catastrophic Earthquake Could Strike at Any Time

Venezuela has just been rocked by a major earthquake disaster. Not one, but two powerful tremors occurred in very quick succession, causing severe damage in several areas. The two earthquakes struck on Wednesday (24/6/2026) local time. The first quake had a magnitude of 7.2, followed by a second, stronger quake of magnitude 7.5 less than a minute later. The epicentre was located near the western region of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. According to USGS data, the second quake occurred just 39 seconds after the first. The impact was enormous. The latest reports indicate that at least 188 to 235 people have died, while thousands more have been injured or remain trapped under the rubble. Severe damage was reported in La Guaira, a coastal area near Caracas, as well as in several locations in the capital. Around 250 buildings, including hospitals and public facilities, were reported damaged. The earthquake also disrupted essential activities in the country. Electricity and communications in Caracas were temporarily cut off. Airports and transport services were also affected, while schools were closed and some were converted into shelters and aid centres. The tremors were not only felt in Venezuela. The shaking was also reported in several surrounding areas, including countries near the Caribbean and South America. This is not surprising, given that the epicentre is in an active tectonic zone near the boundary of the Caribbean and South American plates. Geologically, Venezuela is in a rather difficult area. The country is located near the meeting boundary of the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate. When these two large plates move and slide against each other, energy can accumulate over a long period. When that energy is finally released, an earthquake occurs. The large earthquake in Venezuela was triggered by shallow strike-slip movement. In simple terms, this means two large blocks of rock in the Earth’s crust moved horizontally against each other. The situation was made more destructive because two large earthquakes occurred only a very short time apart. Such an event is known as a doublet earthquake, which involves two large quakes with very similar strength, location, and timing. This event has drawn attention to one crucial matter: the existence of active faults in the Americas, particularly in northern South America and the Caribbean. A fault is a large fracture in the Earth’s crust where two blocks of rock slide against each other. This movement can occur slowly, but it can also be stalled for years, even hundreds of years. When the pressure along the fault continues to build and the rock can no longer withstand it, the energy is released suddenly. This release of energy is what is felt as an earthquake. The Americas have quite a number of faults. In northern South America and the Caribbean, many active faults are interconnected or lie within a large tectonic zone. Venezuela is prone to earthquakes because it is near the meeting point of the Caribbean and South American plates. In this region, there are several major interconnected faults, namely the Boconó, San Sebastián, and El Pilar faults. This series of faults makes northern Venezuela and its surroundings vulnerable to earthquakes. One of the most important is the Boconó Fault. This fault stretches across western to northern Venezuela and is one of the main pathways for crustal movement in the country. Because of its position in an active zone, the Boconó Fault is often associated with earthquake potential in Venezuela. In addition, there is also the El Pilar Fault in northeastern Venezuela. This fault stretches around Sucre, Cariaco, and the Gulf of Paria. The El Pilar Fault is also important because it lies on a crustal shift path that makes eastern Venezuela and its surroundings prone to earthquakes. Given its geological position on a plate boundary path, Venezuela and several surrounding countries cannot be separated from the threat of earthquakes.