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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Caracas Basilica Damaged by Earthquakes, Declared Unsafe

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Caracas's Basílica de Santa Teresa received a red tag after recent earthquakes, indicating structural damage and requiring immediate evacuation.
  • The main dome and sections associated with Santa Teresa's structure show significant compromise, posing a risk of collapse.
  • Religious services are continuing outdoors as the community awaits technical evaluations from heritage and restoration institutions.

Caracas's Basílica de Santa Teresa, a significant religious landmark housing the revered image of the Nazareno de San Pablo, has been marked with a red tag following earthquakes on June 24. This precautionary measure mandates the immediate evacuation of the basilica while technical assessments determine the extent of the structural damage.

The main damage is in the main dome, the lantern that is about to collapse and the part of Santa Teresa that is quite compromised.

— Abraham NúñezDescribing the most critical areas of damage within the basilica.

Abraham Núñez, the parish secretary, reported that the primary damage is concentrated in the main dome, specifically its upper lantern, which appears close to collapse. Sections related to the Santa Teresa structure are also described as "quite compromised." Following an initial inspection, security forces and specialized agencies cordoned off the area to restrict access, pending evaluations by heritage and historical restoration bodies.

The religious community is awaiting intervention from organizations such as the Foundation for Educational Buildings and Facilities (FUNDE) and heritage institutions, recognizing the basilica's architectural and cultural importance. The Basílica de Santa Teresa, built during Antonio Guzmán Blanco's government and inaugurated in 1881, is a neoclassical structure and was declared a National Historic Monument in 1959.

So far, the only ones who have come are the firefighters and the people from Funvisis. So, well, to avoid people entering the church, they marked the whole territory for us.

— Abraham NúñezExplaining the initial response and security measures taken.

For over a century, the basilica has been a major center of Catholic devotion, particularly for housing the Nazareno de San Pablo, a highly venerated image during Holy Week in Caracas. The structure also holds historical significance in Caracas's seismic memory, having withstood the 1967 earthquake without apparent structural damage. Despite the restricted access to the temple for safety reasons, religious activities continue. The parish has relocated its services to outdoor spaces adjacent to the basilica.

We are maintaining the masses

— Parish representativeReferring to the continuation of religious services despite the closure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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