Structural Engineer Rates Venezuela Quake
Structural engineer Hideki “Kit” Miyamoto classified the June 24 seismic activity in Venezuela as the third most complex natural disaster worldwide, following China in 2008 and Turkey in 2023, while commending the rapid and organized government and international response to civilian needs in the affected areas.
Miyamoto, speaking to Venezolana de Televisión, said that under a technical assessment, structural damage was concentrated along the coast and on hillsides. He warned that internal fractures identified in some cases require priority care, but confirmed that reconstruction in La Guaira state is entirely viable.
The industrial engineer, who has over three decades of experience, expressed confidence in the nation’s future and stressed that on-the-ground learning and the deep resilience of the Venezuelan people would enable them to overcome the emergency and emerge stronger.
Miyamoto, representing Miyamoto International, met with sectoral vice president of Public Works and Services Juan José Ramírez to review seismic-resistance analysis proposals from his firm, based on its global expertise with high-energy events that demand high-engineering precautions for future construction adapted to new territorial conditions.
Ramírez noted that these international cooperation meetings are being conducted through the efforts of acting president Delcy Rodríguez. He added that the gatherings aim to establish regulations to ensure medium- and long-term structural resilience against large-scale phenomena, recalling that the June 24 quakes severely affected public and private buildings in La Guaira and other states.
The public works minister also pointed out that delegations from Mexico and Japan, among others, are supporting specific proposals for an early warning system and an efficient risk-management mechanism to handle future critical situations. He further indicated that Miyamoto’s technical advisory will be directly linked to the Venezuela Renace plan, which is focused on national reconstruction.