Venezuela and Colombia earthquakes identified as independent seismic events

Recent major earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia are independent seismic events, according to the National Seismological Network of the University of Costa Rica. In June 2026, Venezuela experienced two large ruptures with magnitudes of Mw 7.2 and Mw 7.5 near Caracas, caused by a strike-slip fault at the boundary of the Caribbean and South American plates.

In contrast, a Mw 7.4 earthquake occurred in Colombia on August 10, 2026, at a depth of approximately 103 km near the Chocó and Valle del Cauca border. This event resulted from the internal deformation of the Nazca plate as it subducts beneath the South American plate. Experts note the epicenters are separated by roughly 1,200 km, meaning the seismic stress from one event does not significantly impact the other.

In Venezuela, the seismic activity has had tragic human consequences. Families of deportees from the United States report that many passengers on a recent flight were killed when a building collapsed during an earthquake in La Guaira. Witnesses claim that many individuals, including asylum seekers, were being held in a political intelligence building at the time of the collapse. Families are seeking legal action in both Venezuela and the United States regarding the circumstances of the deaths.