In Venezuela, the first controlled demolitions of buildings damaged by earthquakes have begun.

Venezuelan authorities began using explosives on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to demolish buildings severely damaged by the magnitude 7,2 and 7,5 earthquakes that struck on June 24. According to the official count, the disaster has claimed more than 5.500 lives, while thousands of families are still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.

According to authorities, 190 buildings collapsed during the quakes and 856 others sustained damage. Demolition and clearing operations are concentrated primarily in La Guaira, the coastal state where the most significant damage was recorded.

A 12-story tower demolished in La Guaira

The first controlled demolition involved a 12-story tower in the Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi residential complex in Catia La Mar. This group of six buildings had been built as part of a government program.

Partially collapsed during the earthquakes, the tower was leaning sharply towards the street. Military personnel established a security perimeter around the site and blocked access for several city blocks. In particular, access was prohibited approximately 700 meters from the complex before the explosive charges were detonated.

At Puerto Viejo, a beach near the restricted area, volunteers and rescuers temporarily suspended their search. Some went into the water during the operation.

The search must resume after the demolition.

Before the start of operations, Francisco Garcés, Minister of Transport and President of the Presidential Commission tasked with assessing the habitability of infrastructure, had assured that "no structure will be demolished as long as there are victims to be found."

Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello indicated that preliminary work had been carried out with the victims' families. According to him, the tower's tilt made it impossible to continue the search safely inside or in the immediate vicinity of the building.

“Once the building collapses, the search for bodies resumes, and we therefore hope that the bodies […] can be returned to their families,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said.

Venezuelan authorities have not released an official count of the missing. However, a diplomatic source and expert projections cited by AFP estimate that the number could be as high as 10.000. This estimate has not been confirmed by the government.

A trying operation for the residents

The force of the explosion caused great concern among residents of neighboring districts, despite information released before the demolition.

“At the time of the explosion, we were finishing a mass to grant eternal rest to family members who have passed away. We heard the explosion and, well, people panicked because it was something, a really powerful noise,” said Jesús Diaz, a 36-year-old lawyer residing in La Guaira.

“It was horrible. I collapsed. I was still at home. It was a much too intense feeling. Yet, we had been informed that there was going to be an explosion, the information had been shared in a WhatsApp group in the community,” testified 66-year-old resident Yenith Salcedo.

"I took my small bag so I could go out here to the beach and wait in case there was another explosion," she added.

Material damages estimated at $19,6 billion

A little over a month after the earthquakes, La Guaira remains scarred by mountains of rubble and numerous uninhabitable buildings. Some buildings are still standing but have lost their walls or windows, while others are leaning precariously, raising fears of further collapses.

According to a preliminary rapid assessment published by the World Bank, the earthquakes caused $19,6 billion in direct material damage in Venezuela. Residential buildings accounted for 47% of this amount, followed by infrastructure at 27%, and non-residential buildings at 26%.

La Guaira and the capital district together account for approximately half of the recorded damage. Controlled demolitions thus constitute a first step in securing the affected areas, prior to reconstruction work and the restoration of infrastructure.