Venezuelan government controls landfill sites for earthquake debris, warns against sea dumping

Venezuela's government has asserted its control over designated landfills for the disposal of debris generated by the recent earthquakes, issuing a stern warning against dumping construction waste into the sea. The Ministry of Ecosocialism emphasized that only authorized sites are to be used for managing the rubble from collapsed buildings.

Violators who discard waste into marine or natural spaces will face significant penalties, including fines and potential criminal charges, according to a statement released on the ministry's X account. This pronouncement follows social media reports alleging that earthquake debris was being dumped into the ocean.

Preliminary assessments from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on June 29 estimated that the double earthquake on June 24 produced roughly 1.2 million tons of debris in the hardest-hit regions. Of this total, approximately 915,000 tons came from damaged buildings, with an additional 332,000 tons comprising household items and personal belongings.

In La Guaira, the state most severely impacted by the seismic events, over 6,700 tons of solid waste and debris have reportedly been collected and safely disposed of. The government, through the Ministry of Ecosocialism, stated that work is progressing cautiously, as officials still hold out hope of finding survivors beneath the rubble. Nearly 18,000 people have lost their homes, a number expected to rise as inspections continue on buildings that sustained damage but did not collapse.