Devastating earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia: geophysicist explains causes and calls for preparedness.
The recent devastating earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia, with magnitudes exceeding 7, are linked to intense tectonic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire, although each was triggered by a different mechanism, a Peruvian geophysicist has stated. The earth, which we often take for granted as solid ground, sometimes reminds us of its restless nature with destructive force. Crustal movements are not merely geological processes but a harsh reminder that human cities and destinies are subject to global tectonic forces. Understanding these mechanisms is the first step towards learning to live in harmony with the planet rather than blindly resisting it.
On 24 June and 10 August, Venezuela and Colombia respectively suffered strong earthquakes that resulted in heavy casualties. In a recent interview with China Media Group, the President of the Geophysical Institute of Peru, Hernando Tavera, explained the geological causes of these disasters.
“All these earthquakes occurred in the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ region. This is an area where the Earth releases a large amount of energy accumulated in its interior each year in the form of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,” he said.
Tavera explained that the western part of South America is prone to frequent earthquakes due to the long-term movements of multiple tectonic plates. Although both Venezuela and Colombia are located in seismically active zones, the two recent earthquakes were caused by different mechanisms.
“The case of Venezuela corresponds to a horizontal contact between plates, that is, lateral friction between the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate. This lateral friction occurs along a fault, and it was this fault that triggered the earthquake. The hypocenter was no deeper than 15 kilometres, so the ground shaking was very strong,” he said.
“Colombia, on the other hand, corresponds to a frontal collision of plates: the Nazca Plate, which causes these seismic phenomena, subducts beneath the continental plate and ruptures at a depth of approximately 100 kilometres. That is why the tremors were felt over a very large distance, including in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela,” Tavera added.
The Geophysical Institute of Peru noted that the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plate at a rate of about 7–8 centimetres per year. This continuous plate movement constantly accumulates energy in contact zones, keeping Peru in a high seismic risk zone. According to the institute’s monthly earthquake bulletin, a total of 514 earthquakes were recorded in Peru from January to July this year, with July recording the highest monthly number – 115.
However, Tavera warned that changes in earthquake frequency cannot be used to predict when and where the next major quake will occur. “This is not a rule. Earthquake frequency does not tell us where the next one will occur. I mean, an earthquake happened in Venezuela, and a few weeks later another one occurred in Colombia. That does not mean that other regions will necessarily experience the next earthquake,” he said.
Tavera emphasised that the key to earthquake preparedness lies not in prediction but in advance planning to minimise disaster losses. According to him, for Peru and other earthquake prone countries, familiarisation with evacuation routes, preparation of essential supplies and regular participation in drills are vital steps for reducing seismic risk.
As CCTV+ reports, the lessons from Venezuela and Colombia once again confirm that in seismically active regions, science and preparedness save lives. While scientists continue to study plate movements, residents of hazard zones must remember that knowing evacuation routes and conducting regular drills are not bureaucratic formalities but real chances to survive when the ground gives way.
