Rescuers in Venezuela have discovered evidence suggesting that collapsed buildings were constructed using Styrofoam as a primary building material, a finding that has cast a grim light on the aftermath of the country's devastating double-earthquake.
The seismic event, a 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quake on Wednesday, has resulted in a catastrophic death toll that has risen to 1,430. Coastal La Guaira, a region near the capital Caracas, has been identified as the most heavily impacted area, with rescue teams from both domestic and international sources working amidst the devastation.
Top lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez described the earthquake as 'the most disastrous event' the nation has experienced in 123 years, with widespread destruction leaving entire towns and cities reduced to rubble. The government has reported over 3,000 injuries and a similar number of people displaced to shelters. However, a website promoted by the political opposition indicated that nearly 50,000 individuals remain unaccounted for as of Sunday.
A video shared on TikTok by a Venezuelan rescuer documented the alarming construction methods. In the footage, a rescuer is seen easily pulling apart sections of collapsed walls, revealing a thin concrete exterior with an interior composed of Styrofoam or a similar lightweight material. The rescuer expressed shock, noting, "No wonder everything crumbled like cardboard."
This revelation has drawn criticism, with many online commenters attributing the structural failures to a "socialist scam." The collapsed buildings were reportedly part of socialist President Hugo Chavez's "grand housing mission," a program initiated in response to natural disasters that caused significant loss of life and displacement in 1999. While the program aimed to provide housing for thousands, an earthquake risk-reduction specialist who previously worked for Chavez's government told The Washington Post that the construction loosely adhered to its own safety codes designed to prepare buildings for natural disasters.
Following Chavez's death and Nicolas Maduro's ascent to power in 2013, the housing project was accelerated, with construction rushed to meet political deadlines. At a four-building apartment complex in La Guaira, built under this mission, three of the buildings collapsed, destroying at least 960 apartments and trapping numerous residents. The TikTok video, though its specific location is unconfirmed, highlights the use of cost-cutting construction methods employed in the program.
The United States Geological Survey had predicted that the earthquakes could result in over 10,000 deaths, positioning them among the deadliest seismic events in Latin America in the past century. Rescue efforts by families and volunteers began immediately, with over 1,600 foreign rescue workers arriving later. The nation's primary international airport, Simon Bolivar International Airport, was also damaged, severely hampering travel into the country.
Rescue teams have reported a scarcity of heavy equipment and a limited official presence, compounded by frequent aftershocks. Years of economic challenges, attributed to socialist mismanagement and U.S. sanctions, have significantly weakened Venezuela's construction sector, leaving the country ill-equipped to handle the disaster.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who took office after her predecessor was removed in a January raid, thanked civilian volunteers for their immediate aid. However, La Guaira has since been declared a disaster zone, and access to the port city has been restricted by Rodriguez, who stated that traffic was impeding the movement of emergency vehicles. Official permits are now required for entry, with few details provided about the criteria for approval.
Rescue operations face a critical time window, as Sebastian Eugster, leader of a Swiss rescue team, noted that the probability of saving lives diminishes significantly after approximately 72 hours. In Caraballeda, U.S. rescuers worked alongside civilian volunteers, some searching for family members. By Saturday evening, rescue teams had begun marking debris with codes indicating the belief that no survivors remained in the ruins.
International aid has been mobilized, with Pope Francis expressing solidarity with the affected population and gratitude to rescue workers. The European Union has allocated 5 million euros ($5.7 million) in emergency assistance and is utilizing its Copernicus satellite system for damage assessment and aid coordination. A senior U.S. official indicated that a substantial funding package, potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars, was expected, in addition to $150 million previously committed by the Trump administration.
The disaster could have political ramifications for Rodriguez, who has sought to project an image of change despite her prior role as vice president under Nicolas Maduro. During a visit to a devastated Caracas neighborhood, residents expressed their frustration, with many shouting at Rodriguez, "The government isn't doing anything for the people."