What the record shows for Venezuela
The strongest earthquake on record near Venezuela is a magnitude 7.7 in 1900, centred Near the coast of Venezuela - 126 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 52 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 444 km of Venezuela - roughly 3 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 19 tsunamis within 444 km of Venezuela between 1530 and 2026. The most significant was in 1812 near La Guaira, triggered by an M7.7 earthquake, which killed around 26,000 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
Popular
Northern Venezuela sits on the boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Venezuela.
Earthquake risk in Venezuela - FAQ
Is Venezuela at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 3 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 444 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.7 in 1900.
What was the biggest earthquake in Venezuela?
The strongest earthquake on record near Venezuela is M7.7, in 1900 (Near the coast of Venezuela), from USGS.
Does Venezuela get tsunamis?
Yes - 19 tsunamis since 1530 (most recently 2026) within 444 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 26,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Venezuela?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.