Civil engineers and construction experts are urging the Venezuelan government to conduct an immediate audit of public housing structures still standing after the June 24 earthquakes. They warn that decades of neglect and corruption under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro's leadership likely worsened the disaster's death toll, as reported by Reuters.
On June 29, two successive earthquakes demolished parts of a public housing complex consisting of 1,100 units, adding to the devastation of a nation that, as of this past Wednesday, had recorded at least 2,295 deaths, over 10,571 injuries, and more than 54,000 missing individuals.
Chávez's Housing Legacy Under Fire
Experts attribute the worsened impact of the disaster to the construction legacy of chavismo. "Chávez's public housing history is marred by corruption and substandard buildings erected without oversight, inspections, or adherence to specific codes in many cases," stated Casanova, one of the experts interviewed by Reuters.
The Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela (GMVV), a program that built over 1.3 million housing units for low-income families between 2011 and 2017, has been heavily criticized. Numerous buildings from this program were erected in geologically risky areas, exhibiting cracks and fissures even before the earthquakes, and failing to meet earthquake-resistant standards.
Structural Vulnerabilities and Government Inaction
Professionals highlight that inadequate monitoring of building codes, soil instability, and flawed licensing practices under both regimes "likely exacerbated the human cost of the disaster," although they admit it's too early to determine precisely why certain buildings collapsed.
As rescue teams continue searching for survivors among the debris—having saved 6,461 people by June 30 while another 13,400 managed to escape on their own—engineers fear additional structures remain at risk.
In light of this persistent threat, architect and civil engineer Glennys González is coordinating dozens of volunteer professionals to provide assessments directly to citizens, given the government's inactivity.
"Our group's initial evaluation suggests codes were not followed in many cases, but studies must be conducted to determine why some structures withstood the impact while others completely collapsed," González explained.
Urgent Need for Action
The structural outlook is dire: approximately 63,000 buildings suffered damage nationwide, with 434 buildings completely collapsing in Catia La Mar alone—30% of the area's constructions—and 750 exhibiting severe structural damage in the Capital, La Guaira, and Carabobo districts.
Maduro's administration has faced criticism for its sluggish response to technical support offers. Despite holding meetings with the country's main professional engineering association, formal evaluations have yet to commence.
On Sunday, June 29, interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the formation of a commission to assess damaged structures but did not specify when the work would begin, leading to growing frustration among experts.
The economic losses from the disaster are estimated at $6.7 billion, according to a satellite assessment by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), reflecting the cost of years of construction without oversight in one of South America's most seismically active regions.
Understanding the Impact of Venezuelan Earthquakes
What are the primary concerns regarding Venezuelan public housing post-earthquake?
Key concerns include the lack of adherence to building codes, the construction of housing in geologically risky areas, and the overall poor quality of buildings due to corruption and neglect under Chávez and Maduro's governments.
How is the Venezuelan government responding to the earthquake disaster?
The government has been criticized for its slow response. While meetings have been held with engineering associations, formal evaluations and actions to assess and address the structural damage have not yet begun.
What efforts are being made by professionals to address the structural issues in Venezuela?
Volunteers, led by professionals like Glennys González, are providing assessments and evaluations directly to the public to determine which structures are still safe, in the absence of government action.