Venezuela Repairs Over 13,000 Homes Damaged by Earthquakes

Venezuela is undertaking significant recovery efforts, with work underway on more than 13,000 homes affected by earthquakes that struck on June 24. These rehabilitation projects aim to provide shelter for an estimated 66,000 individuals across the impacted states. The government reported this progress during a ceremony for the handover of rehabilitated housing in Caracas.

Simultaneously, technical teams are assessing the structural integrity of buildings and infrastructure. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated that 47,369 inspections have been conducted on homes, bridges, and avenues. Of these, 58% of evaluated structures received a green tag, indicating they are habitable. Another 23% were marked yellow, signifying usage restrictions and the need for further reviews. The remaining 19% were classified as high-risk red-tagged buildings.

In La Guaira, one of the most affected states, Governor José Alejandro Terán reported the rehabilitation of 3,938 homes with minor to moderate damage and handed over 60 newly repaired apartments. Official figures indicate that a total of 41,624 homes nationwide were impacted by the tremors, prompting a large-scale infrastructure evaluation and recovery operation.

To further mitigate the impact on affected families, the government has launched a financing program offering subsidies of up to 80% for homes valued at $70,000 and 50% for those up to $100,000. Additionally, the National Assembly approved a new leasing law intended to boost housing availability during the post-earthquake recovery period. However, international organizations like the World Bank caution about the scale of the challenge, estimating direct physical damages at $19.6 billion and warning that prolonged reconstruction could hinder Venezuela's economic recovery.