Status: Investigative findings based on expert interviews and construction records; Venezuelan authorities dispute criticism of the housing programme
LA GUAIRA — An Associated Press investigation found that Venezuelan authorities constructed public-housing towers on unstable coastal land despite warnings about earthquake, flood and landslide risks. When magnitude-7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck on June 24, at least 14 towers collapsed.
The disaster killed more than 6,500 people and left over 17,000 homeless. Engineers and former officials also raised concerns about construction quality, materials and compliance with seismic standards.
Why it matters: The findings suggest that poor planning and ignored scientific advice may have greatly increased the human cost of one of Venezuela’s deadliest disasters.
