According to shocking warnings from experts, the impact and the number of casualties from the massive earthquakes in Venezuela could skyrocket to 100,000 people due to five key factors:
The devastating wreckage of poorly constructed buildings completely destroyed by the seismic doublet phenomenon
- 1. The Earthquake Struck on a Holiday: The disaster occurred on the evening of Wednesday, June 24, which is the anniversary of the "Battle of Carabobo"—a national holiday celebrating Venezuela's independence from Spanish colonial rule. Because it was a holiday, most citizens were at home with their families rather than at their workplaces when the disaster struck.
- 2. A Rare Seismic Doublet Phenomenon: Venezuela was hit by two consecutive major earthquakes, measuring 7.2 magnitude and 7.5 magnitude, just 39 seconds apart. This caused buildings already damaged by the first wave to completely collapse during the second.
- 3. High Population Density in Danger Zones: According to the USGS report, more than 2.3 million people were in areas experiencing strong shaking, including approximately 400,000 in severe shaking zones, and nearly 30,000 facing violent shaking.
- 4. Poor Construction Quality: As reported by the BBC, most residential buildings and structures in the affected areas were constructed from brick, mortar, and clay mud without proper earthquake-resistant technical standards, making them highly vulnerable to collapse.
- 5. Crippled Healthcare System and Infrastructure: According to ABC News, the country's healthcare system, telecommunications, and power grids collapsed, severely hindering rescue operations and making it impossible to save victims trapped under the rubble in a timely manner.