Two earthquakes struck the coast of northeastern Venezuela in 2024. The stronger one measured 5.2 on the magnitude scale and hit near the town of Irapa; a second, measuring 4.9, occurred near Güiria earlier in the year. Both were recorded by FUNVISIS, Venezuela's national earthquake monitoring agency. The Irapa earthquake was felt by hundreds of people, who reported their experiences to scientists.

Both earthquakes occurred in the Gulf of Paria, a body of water between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. This area sits on top of what scientists call the El Pilar Fault—think of it as a giant crack in the Earth's crust where two massive pieces of the planet's surface slide past each other. This particular fault has caused Venezuela's worst earthquakes throughout history, including a devastating 1812 earthquake in Caracas and a major 1900 earthquake near Cumaná.

The Irapa earthquake was felt over a wide area. More than 200 people reported feeling the ground shake, which tells scientists the earthquake was strong enough to be noticed across a large region, possibly even in nearby Trinidad and Tobago. Buildings in the coastal towns affected—especially older ones made of brick or stone—can be damaged by earthquakes this strong.

Earthquakes are common in this part of Venezuela. Over recorded history, approximately 180 earthquakes have caused damage to buildings and infrastructure throughout the country, according to U.S. Geological Survey research. The northeastern coast of Venezuela, where these 2024 earthquakes occurred, is the most earthquake-prone region in the country.

Many of the buildings in small coastal towns like Irapa and Güiria were built before strict earthquake safety rules existed. In recent years, the government has had less money to maintain buildings or enforce those safety rules. When old buildings are combined with active earthquake zones, the risk becomes serious.

This activity will likely continue. The El Pilar Fault releases energy constantly, and it is normal for this area to experience several moderate earthquakes per year. Scientists continue to monitor the region, though budget cuts have sometimes made their work harder.

For people living and working in this region, these earthquakes are a reminder that the coast is seismically active and requires ongoing attention to building safety and emergency planning. A magnitude 5.2 earthquake in an area with aging infrastructure is a warning worth heeding.