The perfect storm that turbocharged Venezuela's twin quakes

A combination of tectonic positioning, unstable ground, and subpar construction led to the catastrophic damage caused by Venezuela's simultaneous earthquakes, according to experts. The late-June tremors that struck the coastal region of La Guaira resulted in more than 6,300 fatalities and the collapse of 190 buildings, with an additional 856 sustaining damage.

The 42-year-old Jennire Garcia, whose home was made uninhabitable, now resides in tents alongside her family. The same area previously experienced deadly mudslides in 1999, highlighting the region's vulnerability to natural disasters. The loose, unconsolidated soils in the area, which require specialized geotechnical studies for construction, exacerbated the severity of the damage by allowing the ground to move with increased intensity.

The residential complex where Garcia's family resides, declared unfit for habitation, was constructed following the 1999 landslide. It features deep cracks, dislodged balconies, and several high-rises that have completely collapsed. Despite the most recent earthquake regulations being updated in 2019, prior regulations were last revised in 1967, following a devastating 6.6-magnitude quake.

Japanese engineer Kit Miyamoto, currently inspecting La Guaira's infrastructure with assistance from Washington, noted significant construction flaws, particularly in the connection of steel reinforcement to building foundations. The government's construction of 43 flagship social housing high-rises in the early 2010s, many of which were built before the 1967 earthquake, further contributed to the region's precarious state.

Some of these buildings have since been reinforced, but many remain unsafe. The government has pledged to construct around 4,000 new housing units this year in response to the crisis. Garcia expresses her distress over the loss of her former home and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of her family's living situation.