Venezuela: Magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurs near Carora, Lara State, June 3

Event

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurred near the city of Carora, Lara State, in western Venezuela at around 13:17 June 3. The epicenter was about 20 km (12 miles) south of Carora and 80 km (50 miles) west of Barquisimeto. The tremor occurred at a depth of approximately 10 km (6 miles) and light shaking was probably felt throughout most of western Venezuela, including the states of Lara, Portuguesa, Zulia, Cojedes, Falcon, Merida, Barinas, and Tachira. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in areas where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity.