On June 24, 2026, Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes, less than a minute apart. The first earthquake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, and the second measured 7.5.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the two earthquakes occurred at relatively shallow depths, causing strong tremors, damage to buildings, and loss of life.
The European satellite Copernicus Sentinel-1 detected ground movements in northern Venezuela following the two earthquakes. Using radar interferometry, scientists obtained an interferometric image showing ground deformation up to 30 cm.
It should be noted that the northern coast of Venezuela lies within the San Sebastian Fault, which extends for approximately 500 kilometers along the Venezuelan coast to the Caribbean Sea.
To assess the impact of the two earthquakes, the European Space Agency used the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capable of detecting terrain changes with millimeter accuracy. By comparing images taken on June 18 (before the earthquake) and June 25 (after), scientists obtained a map of the deformation using interferometry (InSAR). This method involves the satellite transmitting a radar signal and then recording the data as it is reflected from the Earth's surface. Passing the same area over the satellite two or more times at different times allows for the calculation of the Earth's displacement.
The resulting image clearly shows a displacement area extending from Caracas, in northern Venezuela, to Puerto Cabello, about 210 kilometers west of the capital. La Guaira, about 20 kilometers north of Caracas, was also significantly affected. Initial data indicates that the ground displacement along the satellite's line of sight was 30 centimeters.
