Venezuela seeks seismic experts from Japan, Peru, Chile after deadly earthquakes

Venezuela is seeking international expertise to aid its recovery from a devastating double earthquake that struck on June 24. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced on Tuesday that she has requested assistance from countries with extensive experience in seismic activity, specifically Japan, Peru, and Chile.

Rodríguez stated that she has contacted these governments to arrange for specialists to visit Venezuela. These experts will help assess structures impacted by the earthquakes, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The goal is to identify necessary adjustments and ensure the safety of buildings moving forward. The nation is committed to addressing all affected apartments and buildings.

The earthquakes have resulted in a tragic loss of life, with at least 3,535 fatalities, 16,740 injuries, and 17,854 people left homeless. Rodríguez emphasized that Venezuela is a seismic country and must adopt rigorous technical standards in all its construction processes to prevent future risks.

This initiative builds on previous promises made by Rodríguez. On June 29, she pledged that new housing would be provided for those who lost their homes before the end of the year. Discussions are also underway with international experts and organizations to secure immediate housing solutions.

Currently, engineers and architects are deployed in the northern states of La Guaira, Miranda, and Caracas to inspect the habitability of homes damaged by the tremors. The government is calling for national unity to support the reconstruction efforts across the country.