A shallow 4.6-magnitude aftershock occurred north of Venezuela's capital early on Monday, centered at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The tremor woke residents across Caracas and caused buildings to shake, though authorities said there were no immediate reports of structural damage.
Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, posted on social media that the aftershock had not produced any immediate harm. Residents described being roused from sleep by the moderately strong jolt as teams continued sustained rescue operations in areas hit by last week’s larger earthquakes.
Rescue personnel remained on continuous shifts into the fourth day after the initial seismic events, focusing resources on La Guaira state. Officials and emergency crews have prioritized that coastal state because it has been identified as the area suffering the most severe impacts. The continuing efforts reflect an intensive search-and-rescue phase following the previous tremors.
Authorities reported that Wednesday’s twin earthquakes have so far resulted in close to 1,500 confirmed fatalities. The country’s broader situation is complicated by a long-standing political and economic crisis, a condition referenced in the official statements about the response and recovery environment.
The aftershock, occurring at the shallow depth reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, contributed to an atmosphere of heightened concern among residents and responders alike. While federal and regional officials have indicated that no immediate damage had been identified from this specific event, teams on the ground continued to assess impacts as rescue work proceeded around the clock.
Context and immediate response
Search-and-rescue operations that began after last week’s powerful earthquakes continued without interruption into Monday, marking a fourth consecutive day of continuous effort in the most affected zones. La Guaira state remained the focus of those operations as crews worked to reach and assist areas hit hardest by the earlier quakes.
Casualty figures issued by officials place the confirmed death toll from the twin quakes on Wednesday at close to 1,500 people. Those figures, together with ongoing rescue work and the newly reported aftershock, frame a response phase that remains active and critically timed.
Officials and residents alike described the scene as one of ongoing operations amid heightened vigilance following the latest seismic activity. Given the confirmed fatalities and the continuing rescue effort, the situation remains fluid and closely monitored by authorities.