Massive fracture opens in Venezuela after earthquakes; death toll nears 2,000

A massive fracture, over 300 meters long, has opened in Palmarejo, Yaracuy state, Venezuela, following recent earthquakes. The fissure, located in an agricultural area, reaches depths of 2.20 meters and has alarmed the local community.

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Here people do not live, but rather the smallholders come to visit their conucos and their plots.

The seismic event on June 24, which registered Palmarejo as its epicenter, not only created the significant geological crack but also caused severe structural damage to the town. Frank Ilarraza, a local farmer, confirmed the fracture does not directly impact residential areas but affects farmland. However, he noted that the main tremor heavily damaged the town center, home to about 1,500 residents, with several houses collapsing.

Residents are also contending with persistent aftershocks, occurring every 20 to 30 minutes, which disrupt daily life and hinder rest. Emergency and rescue teams are actively assessing the damage across the Veroes municipality, with ongoing concerns about the stability of affected structures.

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The main fracture does not directly cross the residential area, but the affected land corresponds exclusively to the planting areas.

Meanwhile, Venezuela is still processing the devastating impact of the earthquakes. A week after the tremors, the death toll has risen to nearly 2,000, with over 10,500 people injured. Authorities report that over 6,400 individuals were rescued alive, and an estimated 13,500 people managed to evacuate the hardest-hit zones in the initial hours following the disaster.

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The main fracture does not directly cross the residential area, but the affected land corresponds exclusively to the planting areas.