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Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday night, one of which sent players and spectators fleeing a baseball stadium as the ground shook.
A video shared on social media appeared to show fans rushing towards the exits as the stadium shook.
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According to the US Geological Survey, the first earthquake was initially measured at a magnitude of 7.1. Less than a minute later, a second, stronger 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck nearby.
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The epicenters were located near the coastal town of Morón, about 170 kilometers west of the capital Caracas. Both earthquakes were shallow, increasing the intensity of the shaking felt over a wide area.
First responders go to a damaged building in Los Palos Grandes, Caracas, Venezuela, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the area on June 24, 2026. (Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)
According to the New York Daily News, the earthquakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century.
“The earthquakes struck shortly after 6 p.m. local time. People evacuated Caracas’ swaying buildings and remained outside, many visibly shocked as they saw entire walls collapse, making furniture visible from the street,” the newspaper reported.
“Pillars of dust could also be seen in two neighborhoods of the capital, where restaurants and other businesses are usually busy. People remained in the streets after sunset. Some sat on the ground hugging their animals as dust accumulated around them.”
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An ambulance crosses the street at the Parque Central urban development complex in Caracas, Venezuela, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the area on June 24, 2026. (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Authorities reported structural damage in parts of Caracas, including collapsed walls and damaged buildings. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello urged residents to stay outside where they are safe because aftershocks could further weaken damaged structures.
“It started slowly, then gradually grew, and in the end we all had to leave our homes and go out and gather together,” Caracas resident Hector Ricci told the Associated Press.
Another Caracas resident, Roberto Damas, described the shaking.
“The building really shook from side to side. Unreal. The force was incredibly strong,” Damascus said. “We were walking and it was swinging us. Everything in the apartment fell. Thank God we were able to get out.”
First responders go to a damaged building in Los Palos Grandes, Caracas, after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Venezuela and the Caribbean on June 24, 2026. (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
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The earthquakes were felt across much of northern Venezuela and neighboring Colombia. Tsunami advisories were briefly issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands before being canceled after authorities determined the threat had passed.
Authorities continued to assess the extent of the damage Wednesday evening. The New York Times reports that neither the extent of the damage nor the human toll was immediately clear.
