The vice president of the Venezuelan Society of Geologists, Disnahir Pinto, stated that the impact of the earthquake in La Guaira is limited to one-tenth of the territory, due to the type of soil.
The vice president of the Venezuelan Society of Geologists, engineer Disnahir Pinto, has pointed out that the damage caused by the recent earthquake in the state of La Guaira is concentrated in a very small area. According to his statements, only about 10% of the region shows significant issues, while the rest of the territory has suffered much less or no impact at all.
In an interview on the program Primera Página, broadcast by Globovisión, Pinto explained that the main reason for this disparity lies in the geological characteristics of the terrain. “It is approximately 10% of all of La Guaira that is really affected. When we look at the area, even in Guaira itself, which is close to the mountain, the developments were much less affected, some very little or not at all, because it relates to the type of soil,” he stated.
The specialist detailed that seismic waves behave differently depending on the soil composition. In soft ground, the waves are amplified, causing greater damage, while in firm or hard rock soils, the energy dissipates better. This difference explains why some areas of La Guaira, especially those closer to the mountain, have suffered fewer consequences.
Pinto also referred to the reconstruction process, which will depend on the geological studies conducted in the area. “What will depend here is what comes from here on; once studies are carried out, many studies have already been done, but once all the data is collected and the reconstruction process begins, then decisions can be made about what type of constructions or how it will be carried out, whether low-rise buildings with certain characteristics or very high buildings,” he indicated.
The engineer emphasized that each construction must be preceded by a soil study to ensure safety. “Every construction that is carried out must be accompanied by a soil study. Once completed, decisions can be made about what type of constructions will be built, whether low-rise or very high,” he noted.
Regarding the factors that determine the level of damage, Pinto mentioned three key elements: the magnitude of the earthquake, the distance to the epicentre, and the soil conditions. “Let’s remember that there are basically three factors that primarily affect the level of damage that has occurred here in the country. One is the magnitude, certainly, of the event, which was a very intense event... The threats are manageable, only with prevention can everything be handled better,” he explained.
The geologist also highlighted the need to promote a seismic culture in Venezuela, especially in the northern strip of the country, where 80% of the population resides and where the greatest tectonic threat is concentrated due to the Boconó, San Sebastián, and El Pilar fault systems. “The entire northern strip of the country, where there is a higher concentration of earthquakes daily in the state of Sucre, does not mean we simply have to have an alarm; the threats are manageable, only with prevention can everything be handled better,” he asserted.
Finally, he recalled that since June 24, more than 1,400 aftershocks associated with the main fault and its branches have been recorded, underscoring the importance of maintaining vigilance and adhering to construction regulations, such as COVENIN standards, to mitigate risks.
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