Led by Jesús Valdez, chief engineer and CEO of the firm’s Mexico office, the team spent more than a week visiting the hardest-hit areas of Venezuela, from the capital of Caracas to the cities and towns along the northern coastline. Valdez spoke with ENR following his return to Mexico earlier this week. His remarks have been lightly edited for clarity.

ENR: What is the extent of the damage you are seeing in Venezuela from the earthquake? Is it consistent with what you and your team expected to find?

Valdez: The damage is extensive across the affected region, particularly in [the northern state of] La Guaira where strong ground shaking was combined with vulnerable building stock and soft soil conditions. We have observed a wide range of damage, from non-structural failures to partial and complete collapses of buildings. Critical infrastructure, residential buildings, schools and commercial facilities have all been affected to varying degrees.

Overall, the damage is broadly consistent with what we expected following an earthquake of this magnitude. However, the scale of damage in certain urban areas appears to have been amplified by pre-existing vulnerabilities, including adverse soil conditions, aging buildings, inadequate maintenance and structures that were not originally designed or detailed to withstand significant seismic forces.

Miyamoto International engineer Jesús Valdez at the site of a collapsed building in Venezuela.
Photo courtesy Miyamoto International

What towns and cities have you been visiting? Are there any areas that were particularly hard hit?

Our work has focused primarily on Caracas, Chacao and mainly in different locations of La Guaira. These areas have experienced different levels of impact depending on local site conditions, building characteristics and proximity to the strongest shaking.

Some municipalities have experienced concentrated damage where vulnerable buildings were located on soft soils or where older construction predominates. At this stage, our priority has been to support local authorities by identifying the most critical structures requiring detailed evaluation.

What is Miyamoto International’s role on the ground? Which government agencies or NGOs are you working with, and who is coordinating the response effort you are involved in?

With the support of the U.S. State Dept., Miyamoto International is providing technical engineering support focused on post-earthquake structural assessments, technical advice and coordination with emergency response partners. Our role is to help determine whether damaged buildings are safe to occupy, require restricted access or should be evacuated until further evaluation can be completed.

We are working alongside Venezuelan authorities, emergency management organizations, engineers and humanitarian partners. The response involves close coordination among national institutions, local governments and international organizations.

Search and rescue teams comb through damaged buildings looking for signs of life.
 Photo courtesy Miyamoto International

With search and rescue efforts largely over, has the work switched to engineering assessments of buildings yet?

Yes. As search-and-rescue activities transition toward completion, engineering assessments become one of the highest priorities. Engineers are now evaluating buildings to determine their structural condition and whether they can continue to be occupied safely.

These assessments are essential because many buildings that remain standing may still have significant structural damage that is not immediately visible. Accurate evaluations help authorities prioritize repairs, manage public safety and support the recovery process.

Is there some common quality to the buildings and structures that show the greatest damage from the earthquake? Any particular construction types, or eras of buildings that were more badly damaged?

Many of the most severely damaged buildings share common characteristics. Older unreinforced concrete buildings designed under outdated seismic provisions, structures with poor detailing, soft-story configurations, irregular structural layouts or inadequate maintenance have generally performed less favorably.

Buildings that experienced changes in occupancy or modifications over time without proper structural evaluation also appear to be more vulnerable. Each building must be assessed individually, but these recurring characteristics are common among heavily damaged structures.

According to Valdez, more recent buildings that were constructed to modern seismic design principles fared better than older structures.
Photo courtesy Miyamoto International

Have you seen how any recent buildings built to modern seismic codes have performed? Is there a considerable difference from the older structures?

In general, buildings designed and constructed in accordance with more recent seismic design standards have performed significantly better. While some experienced non-structural damage or localized structural repairs may be required, many modern buildings maintained their overall structural integrity, especially in Caracas.

This highlights the value of modern seismic codes, quality construction practices and proper inspection during construction. Good engineering cannot eliminate damage in a major earthquake, but it can significantly reduce the likelihood of catastrophic collapse and loss of life.

An 11-story seaside apartment tower on the northern Venezuelan coast was still standing but suffered significant structural damage, as seen in this close-up of the lower levels of its ruined stairwell.
Photo courtesy Miyamoto International

One concern is that many buildings in Venezuela that have been expanded or modified without proper engineering were at risk. Have you seen any sign of this problem?

Yes. We have observed some cases where buildings appear to have undergone alterations, additions or changes in use that may not have included a comprehensive structural evaluation. Such modifications can unintentionally alter the way a building responds during an earthquake by increasing weight, removing structural elements or changing load paths. 

Although each case requires detailed investigation, unengineered modifications are recognized worldwide as an important contributor to increased seismic risk.

What have you seen of the people displaced and made homeless by the earthquake? Is there an effort to get them temporary housing? Have you encountered people attempting to stay in damaged buildings that are structurally unsafe?

What I’ve seen is that many people are living in tents and on the streets and are reluctant to return home. They are deeply concerned about the safety of their homes, particularly if buildings have been damaged, and many are also worried about the risk of robberies. I don’t know about temporary housing efforts yet.