Earthquakes in Venezuela Leave Thousands Dead and Affect Schools

Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 registered in Venezuela have left over 6,500 dead and caused the collapse of hundreds of buildings, bringing seismic impacts into sharp focus. The disaster triggered more than 2,000 aftershocks and severely compromised coastal cities. Concurrently, data on the mechanical response of constructions to tremors show how interaction with the soil affects structural stability.

Devastating Seismic Impacts in Venezuela

The tremors occurred on June 24 and struck with great force the coastal state of La Guaira, a resort town located approximately 40 km from Caracas. The President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, had previously reported that the death toll exceeded 4,300, a total that later surpassed 6,500 confirmed fatalities.

In addition to the collapse of hundreds of residential and commercial buildings, the coastal region continued to be subjected to an intense sequence of secondary tremors. More than 2,000 aftershocks have been recorded since the main event, prolonging residents' apprehension and delaying the normalization of basic services.

School Routine Affected by Tremors and Aftershocks

The resumption of classes in the country has been marked by empty classrooms and the fear of further collapses. At the Diocesan Educational Unit John Paul II in La Guaira, which has a capacity for 800 students, just over 300 had enrolled, and only seven attended activities on a particular school day.

The unit's director, Marco Antonio Espinoza, stated that the return must occur progressively and safely, with attention to the socio-emotional aspect of students and staff given the fear generated by over 2,000 aftershocks. Teacher Yanet Domínguez, 60, explained that the building structure remained solid and underwent improvements, urging families not to be afraid. Industrial engineer Amni Núñez, 40, also chose to send his two children back to school, stating that children need to understand that life goes on. According to interim president Delcy Rodríguez, over 6 million students have resumed classes nationwide.

School Structures Transformed into Shelters

The physical impact of the earthquakes severely affected educational buildings in several cities. Approximately 60 schools were transformed into improvised shelters to accommodate thousands of people who lost their homes.

Official data indicates that 80 schools suffered structural damage and another 900 were affected at different levels across the national territory. As a result, school attendance remains reduced in the most devastated areas.

How Soil Influences Vibration Impact

The effect of earthquakes on buildings directly depends on the ground upon which their foundations are laid. According to the University of Pisa, the presence of clayey and compressible soil acts as a natural damper against intense seismic vibrations, altering the dynamics of mechanical forces.

This ground flexibility increases the natural vibrational period of the construction, with records indicating a variation from 0.35 to over 1 second. Consequently, destructive resonance is attenuated, and stresses on pillars are reduced, preventing immediate collapses. Long-term monitoring of the Leaning Tower of Pisa revealed that this geological behavior contained damage in multiple historical tremors, also registering a 4-centimeter decrease in its tilt over the past 20 years.

With information from Correio Braziliense, SpaceMoney, Olhar Digital.