The European Federation of Geologists expresses its solidarity with Venezuela following the earthquakes of 24 June 2026 and highlights the role of geoscience in seismic risk reduction
Brussels, 25 June 2026
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) wishes to express its deepest solidarity with the people of Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that struck the northern part of the country on 24 June 2026. EFG extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and its support to all those affected.
EFG also acknowledges the work of emergency services, scientific institutions, technical teams and public authorities involved in damage assessment, emergency response and the protection of the population under highly challenging circumstances.
From a geological perspective, Venezuela is located in a highly active tectonic setting, controlled by the interaction between the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate. This interaction is accommodated through a complex system of active faults in northern Venezuela, where strike-slip movement, local compression and transpressional deformation may occur. These tectonic mechanisms explain the significant seismicity of the region and underline the need to integrate geological knowledge into all stages of risk management.
EFG stresses that earthquakes are natural phenomena that cannot be prevented, but their impacts on society can be significantly reduced through sound spatial planning, up-to-date geological and seismotectonic mapping, rigorous seismic hazard assessment, risk-informed building codes, instrumental monitoring and public education and preparedness programmes.
In this context, professional geologists play an essential role in understanding the processes that generate earthquakes, identifying active faults, assessing ground response, recognising areas prone to landslides, liquefaction and other secondary effects, and providing robust technical advice to public administrations and civil protection teams.
EFG believes that events of this nature are a reminder of the importance of strengthening international cooperation in geoscience, sharing high-quality geological and geophysical data, supporting national geological surveys and promoting public policies based on scientific evidence.
The European Federation of Geologists reiterates its solidarity with Venezuela and all affected communities, and expresses its willingness to contribute, from a professional and scientific perspective, to initiatives aimed at improving societal resilience to geological hazards.
Media contact (English and Spanish):
Pablo Núñez Fernández – https://eurogeologists.eu/contact
