An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 shook the northern coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, prompting an immediate tsunami warning for several islands in the region.
Initial reports indicated no confirmed casualties or material damage within Venezuelan territory.
The official warning extended to include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, highlighting the potential threat from sea level fluctuations and strong ocean currents along coastlines, beaches, harbors, and nearshore waters.
"Based on all available data, there is a tsunami threat to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands due to sea level changes and strong ocean currents that could pose a danger along coasts, beaches, harbors, and coastal waters," stated the official communication as reported by Primera Hora.
The alert also specified a precise timeframe: "The earliest estimated time for the onset of dangerous sea level changes and strong ocean currents in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is 7:19 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2026."
Venezuela is positioned at the junction of the South American Plate and the Caribbean Plate, making it one of the most seismically active regions in South America.
The closest precedent in magnitude occurred on August 21, 2018, when a 7.3 magnitude quake centered in the Sucre state triggered a tsunami alert in the Caribbean, which was canceled shortly after, with no real tsunami materializing.
During the 2018 event, Trinidad and Tobago experienced power outages and structural damages, although no casualties were reported in Venezuela.
In recent regional context, the Caribbean has witnessed several significant seismic events: in February 2025, a 7.1 magnitude quake in the Caribbean Sea posed no tsunami threat to Cuba, and in 2026, a seismic swarm in western Venezuela included tremors up to magnitude 6.3.
The 7.1 magnitude is a preliminary estimate; in similar seismic events, agencies like the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (FUNVISIS) typically review and adjust figures in the hours following the event.
The agencies responsible for issuing and canceling tsunami alerts for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the United States National Weather Service, which monitor the event's progression to determine whether the threat persists or is dismissed.
FAQs on the Venezuela Earthquake and Tsunami Warning
What was the magnitude of the earthquake in Venezuela?
The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.1.
Which areas are under tsunami warning?
The tsunami warning includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
When is the tsunami threat expected to begin?
The earliest expected time for the onset of tsunami-related sea changes is 7:19 p.m. on June 24, 2026.