The NASA published data revealing the geological magnitude of the double earthquake that shook Venezuela on June 24: a seismic fault displaced the Earth's surface by up to 60 centimeters in the vicinity of the international airport of Caracas, explaining the extreme devastation recorded in the capital and in La Guaira.
The information comes from the NISAR satellite (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), launched into orbit to detect surface changes on Earth with high precision.
Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) used synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) technique, which compares images taken before and after earthquakes to detect subtle variations in the distance between the satellite and the ground.
According to the processed data, the maps indicate an approximate area of fault rupture at depth near Morón.
From there, the rupture spread out to sea towards the east and then returned to the mainland near the international airport north of Caracas.
Just to the south of that segment, the greatest displacement was recorded: up to 60 centimeters of horizontal movement to the west.
"These are the reasons why the damage in Caracas and La Guaira was so extreme," explained Eric Fielding, a geophysicist at JPL who provided the maps.
"InSAR reveals a lot of information about what happened during these earthquakes," he added.
NASA clarified that the fault is part of a network of fractures located at the boundary between the Caribbean Plate to the north and the South American Plate to the south.
Scientists indicated that the earthquakes likely originated from the San Sebastián fault system and possibly involved part of the Boconó system, structures that had accumulated stress over a long period.
Using NISAR data, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) also refined its finite rupture model to more accurately delineate how the fault moved at depth.
"This is extremely useful for those who need to understand why the damages were so severe in that area," Fielding added.
This is also the first time that the NISAR emergency response system has been activated to map the displacement caused by a major earthquake, according to reported the agency EFE.
This mechanism allows for data delivery within 12 to 24 hours to support relief efforts.
The double earthquake with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurring less than a minute apart, represents the largest seismic catastrophe in Venezuela in over a century.
The official toll, released by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan Parliament, is 4,561 deceased, 16,740 injured, and 17,907 people without housing.
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