The Daily Journal – The National Board of the College of Engineers of Venezuela and leaders of the Venezuelan Chamber of Construction held an institutional meeting this weekend and signed a joint document addressed to the relevant authorities.
The document calls for implementing a proper methodology to manage the debris left by buildings that collapsed during the June 24 earthquakes, particularly in La Guaira state and other affected areas.
Representing the College of Engineers were its president, Enzo Betancourt; treasurer José Gregorio Chacón; and board members Daribel Ávila and Rafael Argotti.
The Construction Chamber sent Manuel Azpúrua, Housing Director, and Mario Grandi, Director of Real Estate Development. Representatives from the Infrastructure Commission of Fedecámaras and members of the academic sector also joined the initiative.
The document, described as an urgent appeal, stresses the need to remove, study, and manage debris in strict compliance with technical standards. It warns that cleanup operations should not destroy evidence that could help engineers determine why the buildings collapsed.
Betancourt welcomed the signing of the agreement and emphasized the importance of examining the different factors involved in the construction of the affected buildings.
Azpúrua stated, “We need to collect critical data that will allow us to update seismic regulations, expand specialized technical literature, and, above all, learn from this tragedy.”
Grandi highlighted the technical importance of inspecting collapsed or damaged structures before their final disposal.
“Evaluating structural elements and identifying the real causes of the collapse will allow us to draw essential lessons so that we do not repeat the same mistakes in the future,” he said.
He added that a systematic study of construction materials and building systems will help determine whether the failures resulted from the earthquake’s intensity, the quality of the materials, or deficiencies in design and construction.
Both the College of Engineers and the Venezuelan Chamber of Construction reaffirmed their willingness to provide technical support to government agencies and inspectors by placing the expertise of their professionals at the service of the country’s infrastructure safety.
