This is a list of significant earthquakes that either had their epicentres in Venezuela or had a significant impact in the country. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block construction. [1]
Date | Location | Mag. | MMI | Deaths | Injuries | Note | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018-11-24 | Trujillo | 5.2 Mw | VI | 2 | Minor damage | [2] | |
2018-08-21 | Sucre | 7.3 Mw | VII | 5 | 122 | [3] | |
2010-01-15 | Carúpano | 5.6 Mw | VII | 11 | Minor damage | [4] | |
2009-11-27 | Lara | 5.4 Mw | VII | Minor damage | [5] | ||
2009-09-12 | Carabobo | 6.3 Mw | V | 18 | Minor damage | [6] | |
1997-07-09 | Sucre | 6.9 Mw | VIII | 81 | 683 | [7] | |
1974-06-12 | Lara | 6.1 Mw | VIII | 5 | 1 | Some damage | [8] [9] |
1967-07-30 | Caracas | 6.6 Mw | VIII | 300 | 1,536 | Severe damage | [10] |
1929-01-17 | Cumaná | 6.9 Ms | IX | 200+ | Severe damage / Tsunami | [11] | |
1900-10-29 | Miranda | 7.6 Ms | 101 | 50+ | Severe damage / Tsunami | [12] | |
1894-04-28 | Mérida | 7.0 Mw | VIII | 350 | [13] | ||
1875-05-18 | Cúcuta | 7.5 Mw | IX | 10,000 | Extreme damage | ||
1853-07-15 | Sucre | 7.5 | Tsunami 15 m (49 ft) | ||||
1812-26-03 | Caracas, Vargas | 7.7 Mw | X | 15,000–20,000 | Extreme damage | ||
1766-10-21 | Sucre | 6.5–7.5 Ms | IX–X | [14] | |||
1641-06-11 | Caracas | 6.5 | 200 | Severe damage | |||
Note: Mw = moment magnitude scale, Ms = surface wave magnitude. Only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded. |
Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from events too weak to be detectable except by sensitive instrumentation, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities and number of scientific studies.
Betancourt Ruiz, Armando. (1972). Terremotos y Temblores. Monte Ávila Caracas – Venezuela.