Preliminary satellite estimate indicates that 59,000 buildings in Venezuela suffered post-earthquake damage
Researchers at Oregon State University, in the United States, released a preliminary analysis that projects around 58,900 buildings with possible damage or destruction, as a result of the intense earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday (24).
This study was prepared based on satellite images collected shortly after the earthquakes, indicating the regions with the highest probability of damage occurring.
The earthquakes had their epicenters in northern Venezuela, near the towns of San Felipe and Yumare. The initial event registered magnitude 7.2, being followed by a second tremor measuring 7.5.
The strength of these earthquakes was widely felt both in the central coastal strip and in the metropolitan area of Caracas.
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The research reveals a greater cluster of potential losses in the areas most affected by the tremors, especially along the coast and in the urban axis that extends to the capital of Venezuela.
However, the North American Space Agency (NASA) emphasizes that this number does not constitute a final and official count of affected buildings.
Learn more: Experts detail impacts of earthquakes in Caracas despite distant epicenters in Venezuela
The methodology used still awaits validation through on-site inspections or detailed records prepared by rescue teams. However, in large-scale disaster situations such as this one, satellite surveying provides a quick and comprehensive overview, essential for directing early rescue efforts and resource allocation in hard-to-reach areas before full ground assessments are possible.
The estimate was reached by comparing images captured before and after the earthquakes.
The data used for the survey was provided by the European Sentinel-1 satellite, and the work was conducted by researchers from Oregon State University, in the United States.
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The projection covers the areas monitored until the last passage of the equipment, which took place on Thursday morning (25).
The technological system used identifies abrupt changes in the earth’s surface, including landslides, movement of debris or damage to building structures.
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One of the images was captured on Wednesday night, covering the area closest to the epicenters. Another image, recorded on Thursday morning (25), encompassed Caracas and densely populated neighborhoods in the capital, such as Petare and Antímano.
The analysis managed to cover approximately 75% of the land area included in the study. Some segments were not observed because they were outside the satellite trajectory or because they had few buildings.
Smaller buildings or those located very close to each other may not have been identified individually in the survey.
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According to the researchers responsible, the data generated is intended to help identify areas with a greater probability of destruction and direct more in-depth assessments.
Definitive validation of the condition of each building structure requires the use of higher resolution images and direct inspections on the ground.
