Venezuelan engineers train to assess earthquake damage

The College of Engineers of Venezuela (CIV) has initiated a contingency and training plan to address the structural damage caused by two powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, 2026. The initiative targets engineers, architects, and other relevant professionals, providing them with essential skills for post-seismic building assessments.

"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," stated architect José Gregorio Chacón, a member of the CIV's National Board of Directors. The training sessions are intensive, running full-time on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and are open to both graduated professionals and mid-level technicians and senior students in related fields.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez reported that the earthquakes resulted in at least 2,595 fatalities and 12,400 injuries. The government estimates that over 12,800 people have lost their homes. Rodríguez is actively seeking support from the U.S. Department of State and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure resources for the extensive reconstruction efforts required.

International organizations have also documented the widespread impact. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has recorded 16,000 citizens displaced to alternative housing. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that up to 6.76 million people may have been affected by the seismic events. These figures underscore the immense scale of the disaster and the critical need for both immediate aid and long-term rebuilding strategies.