The ground around Caracas lifted 65 centimeters during the twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on 24 June 2026. That is more than double what scientists first estimated just days after the disaster.
Radar instruments on the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites captured the movement by comparing measurements taken before and after the quakes. The satellites passed over Venezuela's northern coast on 18 June, then again on 24 and 25 June. The difference between those readings revealed the true scale of the ground shift.
How radar sees the invisible shift
The satellites use a technique called interferometry. They send radar pulses toward the ground at a diagonal angle, not straight down. The pulse hits the surface, bounces back, and the satellite measures the length of the returning wave. This gives readings accurate to within a millimeter, though vegetation can reduce precision.
Because the radar travels diagonally, it only measures displacement in the satellite's line of sight. That means the 65 cm reading is not a pure vertical measurement. It is the movement detected from the satellite's oblique angle. The data does not reveal whether the ground moved vertically, horizontally, or both.
What the numbers mean for local communities
The upward displacement of 65 cm was concentrated around Caracas, La Guaira, and Caraballeda. Some downward displacement was also detected north of the Boconó fault line. These are preliminary results. ESA's Mission Manager for Sentinel-1, Nuno Miranda, said the radar data from Sentinel-1 is an excellent example of how Earth observation satellites provide rapid information after natural disasters.
The initial estimate released five days after the earthquakes put ground displacement at about 30 cm. The updated figure of 65 cm comes from comparing the 18 June pass with the 24 and 25 June passes. Because the satellite data was not cross-checked with ground measurements after the event, the map is considered guidance rather than a fully validated product.
For people living in the affected areas, the numbers translate into real damage. A 65 cm lift of the ground beneath homes, roads, and infrastructure helps explain the severity of the destruction. The satellites continue to orbit, ready to measure the next shift.
