NASA maps ground shifts after Venezuela earthquakes

NASA has released a map detailing ground displacement after powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24. The tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, resulted in widespread damage, approximately 4,500 fatalities, and over 16,740 injuries. Many families lost their homes and are now living in temporary camps.

The map, created using data from the NISAR satellite and processed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, illustrates changes in the Earth's surface. Scientists employed "synthetic aperture radar interferometry" (InSAR) to detect subtle shifts. They compared images from before the earthquakes (June 13-18) with those taken shortly after (June 25-30).

The analysis shows that most ground movement was horizontal, shifting east and west, consistent with a strike-slip fault. The rupture extended offshore to the east and inland near Caracas. Red areas on the map indicate ground movement eastward and upward, blue areas show westward and downward shifts, and white areas signify minimal displacement.

A narrow white strip near Morón pinpoints the approximate location of the fault rupture at depth. South of this segment, ground displacement reached up to 60 centimeters. The most intense surface displacement occurred near Caracas and La Guaira, coastal cities heavily impacted by the seismic events.