Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Near Morón, Venezuela; Tsunami Advisory Issued

A powerful, shallow magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck just west of Morón on Venezuela’s north-central coast late Wednesday, rattling a broad stretch of the Caribbean coast and prompting a tsunami advisory as authorities began assessing damage. The quake struck near a populated and industrial corridor, and there was no official nationwide casualty toll or consolidated damage estimate available in the first hours after the event.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake occurred at 10:04:31 p.m. UTC on Wednesday, with an epicenter at 10.500 degrees north, 68.400 degrees west, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) west of Morón in Carabobo state. USGS listed the depth at 10 kilometers, or about 6.2 miles, making it a shallow earthquake, which can produce stronger shaking near the surface. Regional reports said the tremor was strongly felt in Caracas and in parts of Colombia, including Bogotá.

Early reporting from Venezuelan media and officials said evacuations took place in several areas after the shaking. Initial accounts also described building collapses or severe damage in parts of Caracas, including districts cited by some outlets such as Altamira, Los Palos Grandes and San Bernardino. Those reports remained preliminary, however, and Venezuelan authorities had not yet released an authoritative casualty count or a verified national damage assessment.

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello acknowledged the earthquake in early public remarks, saying, “Ha ocurrido un evento sísmico que todo indica muy superior a 7 de magnitud.” His comments came as officials and residents were still reacting to the shaking and early reports of impacts.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers, operated by NOAA, issued a tsunami advisory at 10:13:40 p.m. UTC for parts of the Caribbean in connection with the quake. An advisory is a warning that dangerous currents or other coastal effects are possible, rather than a forecast of widespread inundation. The bulletin warned of possible hazardous conditions along affected coastlines.

Northern Venezuela lies along the boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, where a network of shallow strike-slip faults — faults where blocks of crust slide past one another — can generate damaging coastal earthquakes. The epicentral area is near the Morón fault system, a recognized seismic structure in north-central Venezuela. Because Morón sits near Puerto Cabello and a key industrial and transport corridor, officials are likely to watch closely for any effects on infrastructure.

Venezuela has a history of destructive earthquakes affecting Caracas and the north coast, making strong shaking in the capital especially significant. Fuller assessments are expected from Venezuelan agencies including civil protection authorities and the national seismological service, FUNVISIS. Early coverage also reported continued seismic activity and aftershocks, though no authoritative sequence or count had been confirmed in the immediate aftermath.