Venezuelan engineers train to assess earthquake damage

The College of Engineers of Venezuela (CIV) has activated a contingency and training plan for professionals to evaluate the damage caused by two earthquakes on June 24. The initiative aims to equip engineers, architects, and related professionals with the necessary skills for effective post-seismic structural inspections.

"We are doing what corresponds to us: providing urgent training at our headquarters so that professionals obtain the necessary tools to inspect structures in post-seismic scenarios effectively," said architect José Gregorio Chacón, a member of the CIV National Board, in a press release. The training sessions are intensive, held on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and are open to graduates, mid-level technicians, and senior students in related fields.

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced that the death toll from the earthquakes has risen to at least 2,595, with 12,400 injured. She is engaged in discussions with the U.S. Department of State and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure resources for the reconstruction of affected infrastructure.

The government estimates that over 12,800 people have lost their homes. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has documented 16,000 individuals seeking alternative housing. Additionally, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that up to 6.76 million people may have been affected by the earthquakes.

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We are doing what corresponds to us: providing urgent training at our headquarters so that professionals obtain the necessary tools to inspect structures in post-seismic scenarios effectively.