A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northwest Venezuela on Wednesday, sending tremors across the country, including the capital, Caracas, and reaching neighbouring Colombia. Despite the widespread shaking, no casualties or damage have been reported so far.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake’s epicentre was located 24km (15 miles) from Mene Grande in Zulia state, approximately 600km (370 miles) west of Caracas. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 7.8km (5 miles).

Mene Grande, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo, is a key hub in Venezuela’s oil industry. The country boasts the world’s largest proven oil reserves, making the region economically significant.

Reports on the earthquake’s magnitude and depth vary. While the Colombian Geological Survey described it as a shallow 6.1-magnitude tremor, Germany’s Research Centre for Geosciences put the magnitude at 6.31, occurring at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles). Venezuela’s Communications Minister Freddy Nanez noted two additional earthquakes detected by the Venezuelan Foundation for Technological Research, measuring 3.9 and 5.4. The stronger quake was recorded in Barinas state, while the smaller one occurred in Zulia. Nanez did not comment on the USGS report.

Venezuela lies near multiple fault lines created by the interaction of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, with about 80 percent of the population living in active seismic zones. Historically, the country has experienced several major earthquakes, including a magnitude 7.2 quake off its northern coast in 2018 that claimed more than 400 lives.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and residents in affected areas were evacuated from residential and office buildings as a precaution.

Melissa Enoch

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