📰 News ⏱ 2 min

Understanding the Recent Major Earthquakes in Venezuela, Colombia, and Indonesia

Two magnitude‑7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela on 24 June, both shallow and close to towns

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Key Points

5 points

Earth’s crust is divided into huge tectonic plates that move and sometimes grind against each other

When stress builds up on a fault, it releases suddenly as an earthquake

Depth, distance from populated areas, local ground type, and building quality all affect the impact of an earthquake

The Pacific Ring of Fire accounts for most of the world’s largest quakes, but Venezuela lies outside this zone

Continued monitoring and stronger construction are the best ways to protect communities

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A magnitude‑7.4 earthquake occurred deep beneath western Colombia on 10 August, causing serious damage despite its depth

On 15 August, a magnitude‑7.7 earthquake struck shallowly near Flores Island, Indonesia, triggering landslides and a brief tsunami alert

Scientists explain that these events happened on different fault systems and are not part of a single global pattern

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6 words

magnitude

a measurement of the energy released by an earthquake, usually expressed on a numeric scale

tectonic plates

large sections of the Earth’s outer shell that move very slowly over the mantle

fault

a fracture in the Earth’s crust where blocks of rock move relative to each other

Pacific Ring of Fire

a belt of frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity that encircles the Pacific Ocean

aftershocks

smaller earthquakes that follow the main event as the crust adjusts

preparedness

the actions taken beforehand, such as building codes and emergency plans, to reduce harm during a disaster

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