Major earthquake in Venezuela shakes Colombia, no tsunami risk

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck near the coast of Venezuela on June 24, 2026, shaking buildings across Colombia and triggering evacuations. The main shock was preceded by a magnitude 7.1 precursor, forming a "seismic doublet" Source: El Tiempo. No tsunami warning was issued for the Colombian Caribbean coast Source: Portafolio.

The event

The earthquake hit at 5:04 p.m. local time with an epicenter near San Felipe, Yaracuy, initially reported at magnitudes between 6.2 and 7.5 Source: El Colombiano. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded two events: a precursor of 7.1 and a main shock of 7.5 Source: El Tiempo. The Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) reported magnitude 7.0 with a shallow depth of less than 30 km, explaining why it was felt widely Source: El Colombiano; Infobae.

Impact and response

The quake was strongly felt in several Colombian cities, including Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, and Medellín Source: El Colombiano; Portafolio. In Bogotá, evacuations occurred, but no major damage was reported Source: El Tiempo. Venezuelan media showed partial building collapses in Caracas, though official damage assessments are pending Source: El Colombiano. Authorities in Colombia, including the UNGRD, advised calm and shared safety protocols . A separate magnitude 3.8 tremor was reported on June 26 in Valle del Cauca, but it caused no damage .