Venezuelan authorities establish security protocols following earthquakes in the country
The Government of Venezuela, in conjunction with the College of Engineers, various universities, and professional associations, is currently working on the creation of technical guidelines for the rehabilitation of buildings affected by the double earthquake that occurred last June. The initiative seeks to ensure that the repaired structures meet the necessary standards to be inhabited with total safety.
I know that we all want to go home immediately, but we must know that they are certified and safe places.
Francisco Garcés, leader of the Presidential Commission for the Evaluation of Infrastructure Habitability.
International collaboration and strict technical control
The Minister of Transport, Francisco Garcés, highlighted that the reconstruction process has the technical support of international experts. To date, the country has received 12 foreign delegations, including missions from Chile, Japan, and Mexico, nations with extensive experience in infrastructure management in the face of seismic events. The official emphasized that the priority is to follow established protocols to avoid unnecessary risks in homes that present structural damage, such as failures in columns.
- Repairs must be executed exclusively by engineering professionals under strict regulations.
- Every rehabilitation project requires prior permits from local mayor’s offices.
- Buildings classified with a red tag (high risk) will be subject to in-depth inspections to determine the feasibility of their restoration.
Building status
The earthquakes, which reached magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 in the northern area of Venezuelan territory, severely impacted the state of La Guaira. According to official data provided by Parliament, 60,785 residential properties have been inspected throughout the country, detecting that 11,001 of these structures present high-risk damage.
For its part, the Venezuelan College of Engineers has issued a fundamental technical warning: modifications should not be made to structures without detailed prior studies. These unauthorized interventions could compromise the building’s stability and increase its vulnerability to future seismic movements, which is why documentation and professional technical support are mandatory for any reinforcement work.
