A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit northwest Venezuela early on Thursday. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that the quake occurred at 03:51:55 IST, with its epicentre located at a latitude of 9.87° North and a longitude of 70.82° West, at a depth of 10 kilometres.

The tremor was felt across several states in Venezuela, including major cities like Caracas and Maracaibo, and even reached neighbouring Colombia. Residents reported evacuating buildings as the ground shook. The US Geological Survey (USGS) noted that the epicentre was about 24 kilometres east-northeast of Mene Grande in Zulia state, a key area for Venezuela's oil industry.

Despite the intensity of the quake, there have been no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello stated on state television that the tremor did not cause "significant structural damage." Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez mentioned two smaller quakes of magnitudes 3.9 and 5.4 in nearby regions but did not confirm the USGS reading.

Historically, strong earthquakes are uncommon in Venezuela, although about 80 percent of the population resides in seismic zones. The last major earthquake that resulted in fatalities occurred in 1997, claiming 73 lives in Cariaco, Sucre state.