School Collapses Partially in Caracas Nine Days After Major Earthquakes

A section of a school in Caracas partially collapsed on Friday, nine days after devastating earthquakes rocked Venezuela, resulting in injuries but no fatalities.

The incident occurred at the Colegio Agustiniano San Judas Tadeo, located in the La Pastora sector. The school is situated on the edge of a ravine, and the falling debris impacted small houses below, injuring at least one person who was transported to a hospital.

Classes had already been suspended nationwide for the week by interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez in response to the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude. These seismic events have claimed at least 2,645 lives and left over 12,666 injured, with significant damage reported to hundreds of buildings.

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Half of the school gave way, and everyone ran. The retaining wall of the school is also affected.

Residents described the terrifying moment the school section gave way. "Half of the school gave way, and everyone ran," said José Luis Bencomo, a 67-year-old neighbor, adding that the school's retaining wall was also affected. Another resident, Lenys Niño, 48, confirmed that an injured man, known to her, was in stable condition.

Firefighters cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. They reported that a perimeter wall collapsed, and they secured the entire area to mitigate any secondary risks to the nearby community. The incident has left residents on edge, with many expressing fear and alertness to any sound, hoping for assistance from authorities.

Official figures indicate that 885 buildings have been affected by the earthquakes, with 189 completely destroyed. Preliminary assessments by NASA using satellite imagery suggest that the earthquakes may have damaged or destroyed approximately 58,870 buildings across the affected region.

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The man suffered a convulsive event as a consequence of the shock, after which he received prehospital care.