NASA: 60cm Ground Shift Caused Venezuela Earthquake's Extreme Damage

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that extreme damage in Caracas and La Guaira following Venezuela's recent double earthquake was caused by a violent fault rupture that displaced the Earth's surface by up to 60 centimeters. The U.S. space agency published data collected by the NISAR satellite, launched a year ago for high-precision Earth surface mapping.

According to NASA's data, the fault responsible for the earthquake fractured near Morón, extended offshore, and then re-emerged near Caracas's international airport. "This fault is part of a network of fractures located along the boundary between the Caribbean plate to the north and the South American plate to the south," NASA explained in a statement, noting that the faults had accumulated tension "for a long time" before rupturing.

“

This fault is part of a network of fractures located along the boundary between the Caribbean plate to the north and the South American plate to the south.

One of the most significant ground displacements, measuring up to 60 centimeters, was recorded south of Caracas's airport. The severity of the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 double earthquake, which struck on June 24, 2026, and has so far claimed 4,561 lives, triggered NISAR's urgent response system for the first time to map earthquake damage. This rapid processing allows for data delivery within 12 to 24 hours to support disaster response efforts.

The number of injured and homeless individuals remains at 16,740 and 17,907, respectively, according to the latest figures shared on social media by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan Parliament. The government reports that 1,254 aftershocks have occurred since June 24, 2026.

“

for a long time