EXPLAINER: What are the differences between the Venezuela and Mindanao earthquakes?

Venezuela was hit by back-to-back earthquakes on Thursday with a magnitude of above 7.0, drawing comparisons to the massive earthquake that hit Mindanao on June 8, 2026, according to a report in "Saksi."

As of Friday, at least 235 people were killed by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes in Venezuela, with more than 1,500 individuals injured. In the Philippines, the death toll from the 7.8 tremor has climbed to 81.

If the three earthquakes were all at least magnitude 7.0, what were the significant differences among them that led to their varied impacts?

Location of the epicenter

According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the epicenter of the 7.8 earthquake that occurred earlier in June was located 33 kilometers from the ground at offshore Maasim, Sarangani.

In contrast, Venezuela’s twin earthquakes were much shallower and struck directly on land instead of underwater.

The Venezuela magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit at a depth of roughly 22 kilometers, followed by the magnitude 7.5 temblor at a mere 10 kilometers.

Tectonic plate boundaries

According to the US Geological Survey, the Venezuela earthquakes were triggered by a strike-slip faulting near the boundary of the Caribbean and the South American Plates.

Strike-slip faulting occurs when two blocks of rock slide horizontally past one another, meaning their movement is side-by-side rather than up or down.

A local example of a strike-slip-triggered earthquake, according to PHIVOLCS, was the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on July 16, 1990 with epicenter at 15.6N and 121.0E near the town of Rizal, Nueva Ecija. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was the largest for that year killed 1,621 people.

The Mindanao earthquake this month was triggered by the subduction at the Cotabato Trench.

Subduction refers to the collision of tectonic plates, where one plate is forced beneath the other, triggering a powerful earthquake.

In contrast to strike-slip faulting with a side-by-side movement, in subduction, one plate goes down beneath another plate.

West Valley Fault

In the event that a similar magnitude earthquake strikes along the West Valley Fault, at least 34,000 fatalities are projected, according to studies.

Meanwhile, estimations show that more than 100,000 individuals could sustain injuries and over half a million homes could suffer damage.

Aside from the fatal tremor, the disaster could trigger widespread fires that may claim an additional 18,000 lives. — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BAP, GMA News