Venezuela's Strongest Earthquake in Over a Century Kills 188

A magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed by a 7.5 mainshock struck north-central Venezuela 39 seconds apart on June 24, 2026, near Yumare in Yaracuy state, roughly 160 km west of Caracas. The doublet killed at least 188 people and injured 1,520. Both events ruptured the Boconó fault system via shallow strike-slip faulting. The rare back-to-back sequence amplified ground motion duration beyond either quake alone, complicating rescue operations. Venezuela's interim president declared a state of emergency and accepted a call from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding humanitarian aid.