Older buildings and substandard construction left Venezuela vulnerable to earthquakes
Summary
Two strong earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing severe damage and killing more than 900 people. Experts say that older buildings, poor construction, and the local soil made the damage worse.Key Facts
- The earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday and were among the strongest in over 100 years.
- More than 900 people died, and the number may increase.
- About one-third of buildings in Catia La Mar, a badly hit city, were damaged.
- Many buildings were built quickly during oil booms without following strong earthquake safety rules.
- Older buildings from the 1950s and 1960s were not updated to handle earthquakes well.
- Soft soil and tall buildings made the shaking worse, causing some buildings to collapse floor-by-floor.
- Modern earthquake safety uses steel to strengthen concrete buildings, but many older buildings lack this reinforcement.
- Wealthier countries have updated or removed unsafe buildings, but poorer countries have not been able to do so as much.
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