Venezuela was shaken by a double earthquake that caused catastrophes in its northern region. These quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurred in quick succession and raised concerns in the international scientific community due to their unusual temporal proximity.
The Science Behind the Double Earthquake
The first seismic event occurred west of Caracas at 18:04 local time, followed just 39 seconds later by a second tremor in the same area. These events constitute one of the most damaging tectonic phenomena in the country’s recent history.
According to seismologist Gina Paola Villalobos, in regions with accumulated tectonic stress, the occurrence of such earthquakes is expected. The released energy had been building up for a decade, the specialist explained.
Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, commented that the first tremor may have influenced the second, causing a chain effect along an adjacent fault.
Meanwhile, experts from University College London indicated that the phenomenon was an almost continuous rupture that lasted about 50 seconds. The second seismic event released approximately three times more energy than the first.
Because the epicenters were relatively shallow, the impact of the seismic waves was intense on the surface. The location of these epicenters in the Yaracuy Valley, an area with loose sediments, facilitated massive landslides and soil weakening.
The region of La Guaira received a direct impact as the geological fault shifted eastward. Rescue teams and civilians quickly mobilized to search for survivors among the rubble.
Villalobos highlighted that the vulnerability of the constructions was a crucial factor in the human and material damage. Many buildings were not prepared to withstand such a magnitude of movement.
The geological complexity of northern Venezuela, where the Caribbean tectonic plate moves eastward relative to the South American plate, contributed to the disaster. The Boconó, El Guayabo, and Morón faults are involved in this tectonic puzzle.
Initial reports suggest that the faults broke through lateral slips, causing violent shakes in the region.
