6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northwest Venezuela, No Immediate Damage Reported

CARACAS, Venezuela — A 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted northwest Venezuela on September 24, 2025, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The agency reported that the epicenter was located in the community of Mene Grande, situated more than 370 miles west of the capital, Caracas, at a depth of 6.2 miles.

The earthquake was felt across several states in Venezuela and even in neighboring Colombia. Residents in these areas evacuated residential and office buildings as a precaution. Fortunately, no immediate damages or injuries were reported.

State-owned television continued its programming during and after the quake, which included a science segment led by President Nicolás Maduro. An hour after the earthquake, Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez provided updates via the Telegram app. He mentioned two other earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.9 and 5.4 occurring in Zulia and Barinas states, respectively, but did not address the main earthquake reported by the USGS.

Mene Grande is located on the eastern coast of Lake Maracaibo, a crucial region for Venezuela’s oil industry. Venezuela boasts the world’s largest proven oil reserves, making the stability of this region particularly important.