Miyamoto International field engineers continued support for search and rescue operations and structural safety assessments in La Guaira.
Miyamoto International field engineers continued earthquake response support in La Guaira, where reports and field observations indicated significantly more concentrated damage than in much of Caracas.
The day began with a route from Caracas toward the coastal state, passing hillside communities where many homes appear to have been built with limited seismic detailing. In La Guaira and Catia La Mar, the team supported search and rescue operations while documenting severe structural damage across mid-rise buildings, low-rise homes, and partially collapsed residential towers.
Support to USAR operations
In La Guaira, Miyamoto’s field engineer reconnected with the Cancun USAR team as responders prepared equipment for deployment to Catia La Mar. The team had been assigned to a damaged residential complex with two nine-story towers, where neighbors had reported possible signs from within the debris.
Engineering support focused on reviewing structures that remained standing but had heavily damaged upper floors, helping responders understand risk conditions before access, search, and rescue operations continued.
Severe damage in Catia La Mar
Within the initial survey area, the team observed a heavily damaged urban zone with multiple collapse patterns, including pancake collapses, lateral displacement, overturned or leaning structures, upper-floor collapses, and buildings reduced to debris.
Some buildings were already being worked by heavy equipment and rescue personnel, while others appeared abandoned despite visible risk conditions. These observations reinforced the need for rapid triage, access control, and practical structural safety guidance for responders and residents.
Collapse assessment and stabilization guidance
Later in the day, Red Cross rescue leadership requested technical input on stabilization, shoring strategy, and risk conditions around a building that had overturned near Galerias Playa Grande. Miyamoto provided engineering observations and recommendations to support the rescue strategy.
The team also advised rescuers on access, cutting operations, fractured structural elements, and evacuation routes as they worked to locate and extract victims in damaged structures.
Low-rise and coastal building impacts
Field observations also showed significant damage in low-rise construction. Unreinforced masonry, poor construction practices, and limited seismic-resistant detailing appeared to contribute to widespread damage in homes and smaller buildings.
Before returning to Caracas, the team reviewed coastal condominium buildings that remained standing but showed severe structural damage, including fractured compression columns and conditions requiring urgent evaluation.
View more from the field
Miyamoto will continue sharing field updates as assessment work progresses and more information becomes available.
Support Venezuela earthquake recovery
Miyamoto Relief is collecting donations to support earthquake recovery in Venezuela. Contributions help provide technical assistance for building safety, shelter recovery, schools, and community resilience as local needs become clearer.
Press and media requests
Members of the press are invited to arrange interviews with structural engineer and CEO of Miyamoto International, Dr. Kit Miyamoto. For further information, please contact us via email.
Miyamoto Communications Team communications@miyamotointernational.com
