Two strong, back-to-back earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday evening local time, setting off a state of emergency and leaving dramatic scenes of structural damage in their wake.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck about 160 kilometers west of Caracas. Less than a minute later, a 7.5-magnitude tremor followed, along with dozens of aftershocks. Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez addressed the nation on state television as videos of dust clouds, damaged buildings, and rescue activity spread online.
In La Guaira state, which officials told CNN took the hardest hit, reports indicated up to 15 buildings collapsed. Footage and images shared by international media showed major damage at Hotel Eduard, a waterfront hotel in Macuto, and a pancaked multistory residential building in Tucacas. Reuters video also captured damage inside Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, where ceiling sections hung down and debris covered parts of the terminal. The airport later shut down following the emergency declaration.
While local injury and fatality figures were not yet released, USGS preliminary modeling estimated severe impacts, including an estimated death toll between 10,000 and 100,000 and economic losses equal to 1% to 5% of Venezuela’s GDP. USGS also noted that many residents in the region live in structures vulnerable to earthquake shaking, identifying unreinforced brick masonry and adobe block construction as predominant vulnerable building types.
For mason contractors and building owners, that specific callout matters. It points directly to the difference between masonry that lacks a complete, engineered load path and assemblies designed, reinforced, and connected to perform under seismic forces. It also highlights the value of knowing what building types dominate a local market, especially older unreinforced brick and adobe, before the next event turns those walls into life safety hazards.
Read the full, original article from financialexpress.com here.