In Venezuela, the small building in La Guaira that survived the earthquakes

The modest three-story building by the sea, built 20 years ago, survived the two magnitude 7,2 and 7,5 earthquakes, while the luxury complexes that pointed towards the sky collapsed like houses of cards.

"On the way, going through all that destruction, when I saw that he was still there, I thanked God," says Elias Eduardo, 37.

The Chayeb building has six apartments in Puerto Viejo, near the international airport serving Caracas, whose terminals were heavily damaged.

Elias Eduardo and his father, who is also named Elias, are convinced that the moderate height of their construction was crucial to its survival.

But they also cite the quality of the materials and foundations adapted to the notoriously unstable terrain of La Guaira.

"Passed the test"

Some walls are cracked, but the foundations are intact, as are the window frames, staircases, and pillars. Most importantly, none of the residents were injured.

"The building has passed the test," says Elias Sr., also relieved.

As a building contractor, he claims that in his 60-year career he has always refused to work on buildings that were too tall, which he believes are unsuitable for La Guaira, where a landslide in 1999 killed thousands.

Elias Sr. also said he feared the seismic risks, having lived through the 1967 earthquake that killed hundreds in Caracas.

"Many of the buildings that I was asked (to build), and that I refused, have collapsed," he told AFP, pointing to a hill overlooking the sea where buildings of more than ten stories once stood.

Most collapsed before their occupants had time to flee, revealing serious design flaws.

Earthquake-resistant buildings, on the other hand, are designed to absorb as much energy as possible. They can crack to release this energy during a major earthquake but do not collapse completely, Elias Eduardo points out.

La Guaira "no longer exists"

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the earthquakes occurred along the San Sebastian fault system, which runs along the northern coast of Venezuela. It warned that "the seismic activity could make the area prone to landslides for a period ranging from months to years."

"This loophole is here to stay," warns the elder Chayeb brother, whose Syrian parents emigrated to Venezuela during World War I. He calls for a complete overhaul of the coastal region's urban planning regulations.

Ingrid Palacios, 61, says she is grateful to have escaped unharmed, as did her family and neighbors, from the Chayeb building.

Contemplating the apocalyptic scenes of destruction around her, she believes that La Guaira as she knew it "no longer exists".

According to her, the town should be rebuilt with "three-story buildings, small chalets and very small houses".