Caracas suffers heavy damage after twin earthquakes: What is the cause?
Theo Al Jazeera
Two powerful earthquakes struck near Caracas, killing at least 235 people, injuring more than 4,300, and causing economic damage estimated at 1-7% of Venezuela's GDP. Poor infrastructure and underinvestment in urban planning are seen as key reasons the capital was so vulnerable.
Two powerful earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck about 160 kilometers west of Venezuela's capital, Caracas, on the same day, causing severe damage to the city. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), these were the strongest earthquakes in the region since 1900.
As of Friday evening, at least 235 people had been confirmed dead and more than 4,300 injured. Authorities are still searching for those missing under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Jorge Rodriguez, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, said around 200 people were trapped and 250 buildings were damaged or destroyed nationwide. In Caracas and nearby coastal areas, at least eight hospitals, the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross, and the French Embassy were among the structures seriously damaged.
Initial economic damage estimates range from 1% to 7% of Venezuela's $111 billion gross domestic product (GDP). However, Al Jazeera correspondent Teresa Bo reported that the heaviest damage was recorded in the capital itself, Caracas.
Why is Caracas so vulnerable?
Caracas sits in a deep sedimentary basin, which can amplify seismic waves from earthquakes. Geophysics professor Vashan Wright of the University of California, San Diego, explained: "The sedimentary area makes buildings more susceptible to strong shaking compared to solid bedrock."
According to correspondent Teresa Bo, the Altamira district of Caracas suffered the most damage. Several high-rise buildings collapsed because they were built on weak sedimentary soil that could not withstand seismic waves. She stressed: "Slum dwellings on hillsides, which house 40-50% of the capital's nearly 5 million residents, were completely unprepared to withstand strong earthquakes."
The lack of systematic urban planning and the cost of constructing to seismic standards are major obstacles, especially as Venezuela faces heavy sanctions from the United States and Western nations. Although some sanctions have been lifted, the government is still grappling with the consequences of decades of underinvestment.
Additionally, both earthquakes were shallow, at a depth of only about 7.8 kilometers, meaning energy was released closer to the surface, causing stronger shaking and greater damage than deeper quakes of the same magnitude.
Lessons from other countries
Many countries around the world have adapted better to earthquakes through seismic engineering. Japan, one of the most earthquake-prone nations, enforces strict building codes and uses base isolation technology, incorporating steel or rubber dampers, which helps structures withstand intense shaking.
As a result, global earthquake fatalities have decreased significantly in recent decades. Compared to the 1556 earthquake in China that killed 830,000 people, the 2023 earthquake near Shaanxi province killed just 127, thanks to better infrastructure and planning.
