A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing buildings to collapse and a tsunami warning to be issued for nearby Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with USGS projecting casualties in the thousands

20:09 ET, 24 Jun 2026Updated 20:09 ET, 24 Jun 2026

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The footage shows people running through a terminal at Maiquetia Airport after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela(Image: X)

A terrifying video has captured the moment passengers ran for their lives after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday night.

The footage shows people running through a terminal at Maiquetia Airport as the electricity cuts out, plunging them into darkness.

Thousands of casualties are feared after the earthquake triggered building collapses and a tsunami warning for surrounding islands.

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The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the powerful tremor, which hit on Wednesday evening, was felt by millions of people across a vast stretch of Venezuelan territory.

USGS projections indicate that injuries and fatalities could number in the thousands. The earthquake has also set off a series of landslides.

Early reports confirmed the earthquake measured 7.5 in magnitude, affecting Venezuela, Colombia, the Caribbean Netherlands, Curacao, and Aruba. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued a tsunami alert covering Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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Thousands of casualties are feared after the earthquake triggered building collapses (Image: x)

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Authorities had yet to issue an official statement regarding the devastating tremor, and it remained uncertain whether casualties or injuries had been recorded, reports the Mirror US.

The USGS confirmed a revised magnitude of 7.5, with the epicenter pinpointed approximately 28 kilometers (17 miles) west of the coastal community of Morón on the Caribbean coast, at a depth of 13 kilometers.

The quake struck at approximately 6:05 p. m.

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A dog is rescued from a collapsed building following an earthquake in Caracas on June 24, 2026. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported, triggering panic in Caracas, according to AFP journalists. The tremor, which was followed by several aftershocks, was also felt in Colombia. (Photo by Juan BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images)

local time on Wednesday. Video and photos spreading across social media showed cars, homes, and buildings trembling intensely, as panicked and confused residents flooded into the streets searching for safety away from structures.

Furthermore, unconfirmed online footage seemed to reveal damage at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, the nation's primary airport.

"Earthquake here in Caracas," one user shared. "Never in my life had I felt one so strong."

Further footage posted by Rapid Report showed a building in Caracas partially giving way as a consequence of the earthquake, with locals hurrying residents from their homes.

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A collapsed building is seen following an earthquake in Caracas on June 24, 2026. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported, triggering panic in Caracas, according to AFP journalists. The tremor, which was followed by several aftershocks, was also felt in Colombia. (Photo by Juan BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images)

One individual was observed carrying two dogs as he made his way through the debris to safety.

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The USGS verified it was continuing to examine data from Wednesday's earthquake, indicating that the event's magnitude may be adjusted as additional information emerges. The shake-severity map is also anticipated to be refined as seismologists proceed with their evaluation.

Venezuela's Foundation for Seismological Research (Funvisis) had not yet issued an official statement specifying the quake's magnitude, epicenter, and depth.

Nonetheless, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello acknowledged the tremor was experienced throughout several states, referencing "alarming situations" in Caracas' Altamira neighborhood, where homes and buildings had crumbled. Cabello, previously a trusted associate of former President Nicolas Maduro prior to his apprehension by U.S. authorities earlier this year, advised citizens to stay outside as possible aftershocks might trigger additional structural harm.