Venezuela earthquakes may have destroyed nearly 58,000 buildings

A preliminary satellite assessment has indicated that nearly 59,000 buildings may have been damaged or destroyed in last week‍‍`s devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela, pointing to destruction on a much larger scale than official estimates.

The powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck within minutes of each other last Wednesday, killing at least 1,943 people and injuring more than 10,500. Thousands remain unaccounted for as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings.

While Venezuelan authorities have so far reported damage to 855 buildings, including 189 that completely collapsed, a separate analysis based on satellite imagery suggests the destruction could be far more extensive.

Researchers at Oregon State University examined high-resolution radar images captured by the European Space Agency‍‍`s Sentinel-1 satellites and estimated that around 58,870 buildings across the affected region showed signs of significant structural damage or collapse. The researchers stressed that the findings are preliminary and based on rapid analysis of surface changes visible from space.

The International Organization for Migration has warned that up to 6.8 million people could be affected by the disaster, increasing demand for emergency shelter, clean water, sanitation, healthcare and other humanitarian assistance.

The World Health Organization has also raised concerns about growing public health risks as damaged hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of patients.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said overstretched health facilities have increased the likelihood of disease outbreaks, including measles, diphtheria, malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika.

The agency also reported shortages in maternity care services in the heavily affected coastal city of La Guaira, where several healthcare workers remain missing. Hospitals are also facing overcrowding, surgical backlogs and difficulties registering casualties and identifying missing people.

Authorities have tightened access to La Guaira by introducing permit requirements, while the city‍‍`s port has reopened after emergency repairs. A warehouse near the port has been converted into a temporary morgue to accommodate hundreds of unidentified bodies.

According to the United Nations, 27 countries have deployed nearly 40 international search-and-rescue teams, involving more than 2,000 personnel and over 160 rescue dogs. The UN is also sending 10,000 body bags as humanitarian operations expand.

Frustration is mounting among survivors who say rescue efforts have been too slow and insufficient.

Families searching for missing relatives continue to appeal for heavy machinery, saying rescuers relying on manual tools cannot remove the massive volumes of debris covering collapsed buildings.

Volunteer rescuer Nicolás Serrato, who has been working in and around La Guaira, said the scale of destruction was overwhelming, with damaged structures visible across much of the region.

He said the satellite-based estimate closely matched what rescue workers were witnessing on the ground, describing the humanitarian situation as severe and stressing the urgent need for continued international assistance.

Source: The Guardian