Venezuela assesses Maiquetía airport damage and issues repair guidelines after June quakes

A presidential commission team that included Japanese seismology expert Hideki Miyamoto inspected the International Airport of Maiquetía following two strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 on 24 June. Engineers examined walkways, aircraft platforms, administration buildings and other operational areas to record structural damage and plan restoration. The airport remains open for limited commercial and private flights while assessments continue.

The Commission for the Evaluation of Habitable Infrastructure, led by Francisco Garcés, has prepared technical manuals to guide repair and reconstruction of affected buildings. Garcés said, «En esta primera instancia vamos a reparar, no a reforzar», and stressed that all repair work must be authorized by local municipalities: «Todo el que repara tiene que pedir permiso a las alcaldías». The guidelines, to be distributed to every mayor’s office, require that repairs be carried out by certified professionals and that inspections determine habitability before work begins.