Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, June 12, 2024, causing deaths and significant structural damage at a major international airport.
The disasters highlight the vulnerability of critical transport infrastructure to seismic activity in the region. The resulting damage at the country's primary gateway could disrupt international travel and emergency response efforts.
The seismic activity consisted of two back-to-back events. A magnitude 7.2 [1] foreshock occurred near San Felipe, followed 40 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 [2] shock near Yumare. While some reports listed the initial quake as a 7.1 magnitude [3], the higher-trust data indicates a 7.2 magnitude event.
At Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the tremors triggered panic among travelers. Footage captured by former lawmaker Wilmer Azuaje showed passengers scrambling to escape as debris fell. The shaking caused a partial collapse of the terminal roof [4].
The human toll from the earthquakes is severe. Reports indicate 32 people died [2] and 700 others were injured [2]. Other sources said the casualties were dozens killed [3] following the shocks.
Emergency crews responded to the scenes in Maiquetía and the surrounding areas to clear debris and assist the wounded. The proximity of the two shocks, separated by less than a minute, intensified the impact on buildings already weakened by the first tremor.
“A magnitude 7.2 foreshock occurred near San Felipe, followed 40 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 shock.”
The occurrence of a high-magnitude foreshock followed immediately by an even stronger main shock created a compounding effect on infrastructure. The partial collapse of the Simón Bolívar International Airport terminal suggests that critical facilities may not be meeting seismic resilience standards, potentially complicating the logistics of receiving international aid or evacuating citizens during future disasters.
