Venezuela Extends School Suspension, Forms Commission to Inspect Earthquake-Damaged Homes

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced that school classes will remain suspended nationwide for an additional week in the wake of a significant earthquake.

Rodríguez also revealed the immediate formation of a presidential commission tasked with inspecting homes affected by the recent double earthquake. This commission will conduct a widespread diagnosis in the hardest-hit areas to mitigate risks from potential aftershocks. The team, comprising public institutions, engineering organizations, and universities, will use a traffic light system (green, yellow, red) to classify the condition of houses and apartments, determining if they are safe for residents.

Additionally, a high-level committee will be established to create temporary camps for those who lost their homes and to plan new construction projects. The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, will lead this planning committee, which will involve ministries such as Habitat and Housing, along with regional and local authorities.

In La Guaira, the state most severely impacted by collapsed buildings, technical crews have reportedly restored 75% of the electrical service and 68% of the potable water supply. Authorities also report that 90% of the main roads in the state have been cleared and are operational.

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The presidential commission is already working to verify the habitability conditions, if people can already return to their homes.