Supranational Technical Committee Proposed to Investigate Building Collapses in Earthquakes

Civil society groups have formally called for the establishment of a supranational technical-scientific commission to objectively investigate the causes behind the collapse of numerous buildings during the earthquakes on June 24. The initiative seeks to assign accountability for the tragedy that claimed thousands of lives, primarily in the central-northern region of the country, with a significant impact in the state of La Guaira.

Proponents of the proposal are demanding evaluations free from political influence to understand why certain structures failed while others in the same urban areas remained standing. The organizations highlighted the urgent need to audit the quality of both public and private construction, including housing projects in La Guaira. They emphasized that the reconstruction process requires a thorough understanding of structural failures in homes, roads, health centers, and airports.

“

The tragedy of June 24 must serve to analyze consequences and determine responsibilities, without cover-ups or favoritism, and to update relevant standards with criteria detached from politics and circumstances.

"The tragedy of June 24 must serve to analyze consequences and determine responsibilities, without cover-ups or favoritism, and to update relevant standards with criteria detached from politics and circumstances," stated a letter from the groups. Organizations like Fundación Espacio Abierto, Gente del Petróleo, and Grupo La Colina are insisting that future constructions must be based on verifiable technical data.

The signatories also demanded specialized forensic engineering and audits to verify compliance with anti-seismic regulations, the resistance of materials used, and the effectiveness of inspections during construction. This comprehensive analysis of risk management, they stressed, will be crucial for correcting response protocols for future seismic events.

“

Our intention is to call on the population to report crimes to generate heat maps that allow the National Police, Senan and Senafront to locate the areas where crimes are being registered and combat them more effectively.