NASA’s NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite has provided the first detailed maps showing how the ground shifted in La Guaira and nearby areas of Venezuela following a pair of devastating earthquakes in June 2026. The data, processed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), reveals the extent and direction of land displacement that contributed to the region’s severe damage and loss of life.
What Happened
On June 24, 2026, northern Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes within a minute: a magnitude 7.2 temblor followed by a larger 7.5 mainshock. In the aftermath, the NISAR satellite collected radar images on June 25 and June 30, which were compared against pre-quake images taken on June 13 and June 18. This comparison, done using a technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), detects subtle changes in distance between the satellite and the Earth’s surface, mapping ground displacement caused by the seismic events.
Key Facts
NISAR’s radar views the Earth at a 40-degree angle, capturing both horizontal and vertical movement. The data mapped red areas where the ground shifted upward and eastward, and blue areas where it moved downward and westward. Because the earthquakes happened on a strike-slip fault along the boundary of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, the displacement was predominantly horizontal. A narrow white band near Morón indicates the fault rupture zone where little surface displacement occurred. The most dramatic movement—up to 60 centimeters (24 inches) of westward displacement—occurred just south of this fault near La Guaira, explaining the extreme local damage.
Using these satellite observations, USGS refined its finite fault model for the quake, better constraining the slip distribution along the fault, including the eastern rupture segment near Caracas’s international airport. This event marked the first operational use of NISAR’s Urgent Response system, delivering preliminary displacement maps within 12 to 24 hours to support disaster management efforts.
What This Means
NISAR’s ability to rapidly map ground displacement after such a large earthquake offers critical insight into the forces driving destruction during seismic events. By revealing exact patterns of land movement, scientists and emergency planners gain a clearer understanding of how strain released along faults translates into surface damage. This can improve hazard assessment, structural engineering approaches, and disaster response planning in earthquake-prone regions worldwide.
For affected communities, knowing where and how the ground moved supports explanations for uneven damage patterns and informs rebuilding strategies to reduce future risks. Moreover, NISAR’s Urgent Response system demonstrates how satellite technology now plays a real-time role in aid coordination, potentially saving lives and resources through swift delivery of essential data.
Background
The earthquakes occurred along the San Sebastián fault system, part of a broader network of fractures delineating the boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates. This boundary has long been known to accumulate tectonic strain, with the June 2026 quakes releasing built-up energy after decades of fault locking. Previous seismic events in the region and worldwide have shown that strike-slip faults often cause large horizontal displacements such as those tracked by NISAR.
What Comes Next
Following preliminary delivery through the Urgent Response system, NISAR data will undergo reprocessing with precise orbital information within days to refine displacement maps. Ongoing analysis by NASA scientists and the USGS will further elucidate fault mechanics and ground motion patterns. These insights will feed into improved seismic hazard models and support long-term earthquake preparedness for Venezuela and other vulnerable areas.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following sources:
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