M3.8 Earthquake 15 km N of Guatire, Venezuela — May 17, 2026
2026-05-17 01:46:07 UTC (2026-05-17) · approx. 9:46 PM UTC-4 local
Felt by 14 people across nearby locations.
On May 17, 2026 at 01:46 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 15 km N of Guatire, Venezuela, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 10.6158°, -66.5378°. This earthquake was detected by 19 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 227, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 7.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 252 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 14 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
-66.5378°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Guatire, Venezuela?
The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 15 km N of Guatire, Venezuela on May 17, 2026 at 01:46 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 10.6158°, -66.5378°, which is 15 km N of Guatire, Venezuela.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sybm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 17, 2026). M3.8 Earthquake 15 km N of Guatire, Venezuela — May 17, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sybm/