Over 8,000 structures inspected in Caracas after earthquakes

The Venezuelan College of Engineers (CIV) has inspected more than 8,000 structures in Caracas in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck on June 24. The primary goal of these inspections is to assess habitability, identify critical structural flaws, and provide essential recommendations to local communities and authorities to mitigate vulnerabilities.

According to a CIV press release, the inspections revealed that over 70% of the buildings examined are safe for occupation. However, approximately 25% of the structures were classified as requiring "habitability with precaution" or were deemed "not habitable." This assessment involved the voluntary and free service of around 6,000 engineers in the affected areas, aiming to provide reassurance to the public.

Rafael Argotti, a member of the CIV's National Board of Directors, stated that the revisions will continue, focusing on areas with higher population density and older buildings within the capital. The CIV estimates a total of 12,000 inspections will be completed through a collaborative effort involving municipal governments, universities, the Fire Department, and Civil Protection.

This initiative comes one month after a powerful double earthquake primarily affected northern Venezuela, causing at least 5,546 deaths, 16,740 injuries, and leaving 17,907 people homeless. The disaster also damaged 856 buildings and caused 190 to collapse. The World Bank recently estimated the direct physical damages at $19.6 billion, cautioning that a slow reconstruction process could impede Venezuela's economic recovery over the next decade.