A pair of powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, triggering one of the country's deadliest natural disasters in more than a century and sparking renewed attention after several major earthquakes occurred around the world within hours. The twin earthquakes—a magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed just 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock—hit near Yaracuy State, sending violent shaking across much of northern Venezuela, including the capital, Caracas. The