Venezuela Inspects Over 20,000 Buildings Post-Earthquake, Aims for 50,000

Venezuelan authorities have completed structural inspections of more than 20,000 buildings in the wake of a double earthquake that struck seven states on June 24. The Ministry of Transportation announced the figures, stating the government aims to inspect over 30,000 structures by the end of July and a total of 50,000 in the most affected areas.

Minister of Transportation Francisco Garcés, a specialist in seismic resistance, explained that inspections are systematically conducted by sector. Buildings are then classified using a three-color code: green for habitable structures, yellow for those with restricted use, and red for buildings with severe damage posing an imminent safety risk.

Garcés acknowledged that Venezuela currently lacks the 1,000 specialized seismic engineers needed for the extensive assessment. However, he clarified that an equivalent number of trained civil engineers are conducting the initial phase of evaluations. A higher-level technical commission will subsequently perform in-depth diagnostic studies to guide repair processes and establish guidelines for local municipalities.

The minister stressed the importance of municipal permits based on new technical studies for any repair or reinforcement projects to prevent dangerous empirical interventions. He also noted that the collected data will inform emergency transitional provisions for construction, particularly in the state of La Guaira. The executive branch is incorporating recommendations from engineer Carlos Genatios, following the 1999 Vargas tragedy, to enhance seismic prevention awareness nationwide.

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The country does not currently have the 1,000 specialized seismic engineers that the contingency would require.