what is the worst earthquake in venezuela

The worst earthquake in Venezuela is generally considered the 1812 Caracas earthquake , which struck on March 26, 1812 and is estimated at about magnitude 7.7 to 8.0. It caused massive destruction in Caracas and other cities and is often cited as the deadliest and most devastating quake in the country’s history.

Recent context

Some recent reports also describe the June 2026 double earthquake as Venezuela’s worst seismic tragedy in more than a century, with very high provisional death tolls and major damage in La Guaira and nearby regions.

Historical perspective

A few major quakes are often mentioned in Venezuela’s seismic history:

• 1766 , estimated magnitude 7.9, sometimes described as the largest in the country’s recorded seismic history.

• 1812 Caracas earthquake , widely remembered as the most destructive.

• 1967 Caracas earthquake , which caused severe damage and 245 deaths.

• 1997 Cariaco earthquake , which killed 73 people.

Simple answer

If you mean the most historically severe and infamous earthquake , the answer is the 1812 Caracas earthquake.

If you mean the worst recent earthquake event , some 2026 reporting points to the June 2026 double quake as the country’s worst disaster in over a century.