Venezuela earthquakes: 'Tecnopor' use in buildings sparks quality concerns amid rescue efforts

Venezuela is facing a critical situation following devastating earthquakes that have claimed thousands of lives and left many more injured or missing. The nation is in a race against time to rescue survivors trapped under rubble, a task made more difficult by aftershocks, including a recent 4.6 magnitude tremor felt in Caracas.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, have led to the collapse of approximately 800 buildings, with authorities estimating that 189 structures were completely destroyed. Coastal areas like La Guaira and the capital, Caracas, have been particularly hard-hit, resembling "a cemetery of residential buildings." Many other buildings have sustained damage, rendering them uninhabitable, highlighting a perceived lack of preparedness for natural disasters in the country.

Experts have pointed to inadequate infrastructure planning, noting that Venezuela's major cities were not built to withstand seismic activity. Manuel Regueiro, former president of Spain's Official College of Geologists, stated that the absence of major earthquakes in the past may have led to a dangerous accumulation of energy, which was released during the recent seismic events.

Adding to the concerns, an inadequate use of "tecnopor", a commercial name for expanded polystyrene (EPS), known locally as "anime", has been revealed in the construction of some collapsed buildings. This lightweight, insulating, and cost-effective material, typically used for insulation, was found as a filler within the structural columns of several buildings. Reports from rescuers and affected residents in La Guaira indicate that the cores of these columns were made of polystyrene, covered by only a thin layer of cement.

This practice is linked to the poor quality of social housing projects, particularly those under the "Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela" initiative. Despite delivering millions of homes, these projects have been plagued by corruption scandals. The use of tecnopor in structural elements, rather than for its intended insulating purpose, raises serious questions about construction standards and the integrity of buildings in the affected regions.