Venezuela develops repair guidelines for earthquake-damaged buildings

The Venezuelan government is establishing guidelines for repairing buildings damaged by the dual earthquakes that struck the northern region, particularly La Guaira, two months ago. Francisco Garcés, leader of the Presidential Commission for the Evaluation of Infrastructure Habitability and Minister of Transport, stated that the government is working alongside the College of Engineers, universities, and professional guilds to ensure all repairs are certified and safe.

International delegations from Chile, Japan, and Mexico have visited the country to assist in damage assessments. Garcés emphasized that repairs must follow strict protocols and be conducted by engineering professionals with proper municipal permits to reduce vulnerability to future seismic events. Buildings currently marked with a red label for high risk will undergo more detailed inspections.

Rafael Argotti of the College of Engineers of Venezuela has advised property owners of buildings with yellow or red labels to seek evaluations from multiple certified experts, including structural engineers and pathologists, before making decisions regarding their properties. He noted that many structures may be restorable to their original state without requiring demolition. The presidential commission includes professionals from various institutions, such as the Universidad Central de Venezuela and Universidad Católica Andrés Bello.