Chile sends expert mission to Venezuela to assess earthquake damage

Chile has dispatched a team of experts to Venezuela to assist in evaluating the aftermath of a significant double earthquake that occurred on June 24. The mission, announced by Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to leverage Chile's extensive experience in seismic events to aid Venezuela.

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Chile has accumulated very important experience in seismic matters, and today we have the possibility to put that knowledge at the disposal of a country that faces a very complex situation.

The multidisciplinary team, comprising academics from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) and specialists in seismic engineering, structural assessment, and disaster risk management, will collaborate with Venezuela's Ministry of Transportation. This initiative builds on Chile's prior assistance, which included sending rescue personnel following the magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 earthquakes that impacted Caracas and La Guaira.

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International cooperation is also built this way: sharing capabilities, knowledge, and experience when other countries need it. This mission is a concrete expression of that willingness to collaborate.

Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna highlighted the opportunity to share knowledge, stating, "Chile has accumulated very important experience in seismic matters, and today we have the possibility to put that knowledge at the disposal of a country that faces a very complex situation." The team's work will involve inspecting buildings to determine their usability, identify those requiring restricted access, and flag structures for demolition, aiming for rigorous yet agile assessments to inform repair decisions and minimize risks.

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We will support inspecting buildings to determine which can continue to be used, which present conditions that make it necessary to restrict access, and which must be demolished.

This deployment also occurs amidst ongoing efforts to re-establish consular relations between Chile and Venezuela, which were severed in 2024. The resumption of diplomatic ties was formally announced on August 6, following a period of strained relations initiated during the previous Chilean administration.

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The evaluation must be rigorous, but also very agile, because its results directly serve to make repair decisions in order to reduce risks for people.