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From the viewpoint of structural dynamics, this catastrophe was not merely a result of the earth's movement, but a tragic convergence of specific seismic characteristics and vulnerabilities in the built environment, experts from É«¹·µ¼º½ say. 

Dr Andre Jesus, Senior Lecturer in Structural Dynamics at É«¹·µ¼º½, explained: “The primary driver of the destruction was the shallow depth of the rupture - approximately 10–22 km - combined with its strike-slip mechanism along the Boconó–Morón–El Pilar fault system.  

“Unlike deeper subduction earthquakes that dissipate energy over distance, these shallow crustal events transferred massive kinetic energy directly into the surface. Crucially, the rupture directed the pulse of seismic waves straight toward the dense urban corridor of La Guaira and Caracas.  

“This "directivity effect" meant that buildings in these cities were hit by a concentrated, high-velocity pulse of energy rather than scattered shaking. 

“Much of La Guaira and parts of Caracas sit on soft, saturated alluvial soils and reclaimed land. In structural dynamics terms, these soft soils act as an amplifier, increasing the amplitude of seismic waves and lengthening their period.  

“This matched the natural frequency of many mid-to-high-rise buildings (5–15 stories). When the ground shakes at the same frequency as a building, the structure sways with increasing intensity, much like pushing a child on a swing at the perfect moment.” 

Dr Andre Jesus added that it is due to these forces that meant the buildings in Venezuela were ill-equipped to cope with the force of the shaking. 

He said: “The building stock in the affected zone proved ill-equipped to handle these forces. The dominant construction type—reinforced concrete frames with masonry infill—suffered from critical dynamic flaws. Many buildings featured "soft stories" (weak columns relatively to beams/slabs).  

“During the quake, these flexible storey levels experienced disproportionately large lateral deformation, leading to column failure and progressive floor collapse (pancake-type). 

“Furthermore, older structures built before modern codes lack adequate ductility – the ability to absorb energy via deformation before failure. 

“The result was a systemic failure where the dynamic characteristics of the ground motion, amplified by local soil conditions, exceeded the deformation capacity of poorly ductile reinforced concrete systems. The tragedy underscores that in seismic zones, structural safety depends on a combination of strength, ductility, detailing, and system-level configuration to ensure reliable energy dissipation and deformation control.” 

Dr Monia Del Pinto, a Lecturer in Sustainable and Resilient Urbanism at É«¹·µ¼º½, explained how disasters such as the earthquake in Venezuela can impact people’s lives. 

She said: “Venezuela's territory falls in a highly seismic area with historical events of similar magnitude in 1997 (M 7.0), and other major shocks in 1967 (M 6.5) and 1950 (M 6.8). The impact of the June 2026 double earthquake translated into extensive structural damage, which, in highly urbanised areas, led to an unfolding number of casualties recorded.

"A further concern among experts, however, is that the seismic event and its aftershocks can trigger secondary hazards such as landslides in the region, putting more people and infrastructures at risk in the coming months. 

"The most immediate and impactful disruption is caused by the damage to the building stock, which ultimately leads to the relocation of people and functions. The evacuation of highly damaged neighbourhoods, in fact, implies that people will be relocated to temporary shelters or other forms of accommodations. While such a measure is meant to prioritise people's safety, it comes with consequences, often resulting in long-term or even permanent displacement,  ultimately causing documented long-term impacts on people’s mental health. 

"Further to that, earthquake-induced large-scale infrastructural damage affects the functioning of disaster-affected territories and beyond. Disruptions to transport networks can have immediate consequences for aid delivery and evacuation, but also long-term consequences for the physical and economic recovery of an area. Lastly, there is the economic and financial impact, linked to loss of livelihoods, and the rehabilitation and reconstruction costs to be faced after the emergency is over. 

“While the emergency and rescue operations are drawing international humanitarian aid and search and rescue teams being deployed, the way post-disaster reconstruction will be conducted offers a powerful opportunity to restore and strengthen people’s sense of agency. By shifting from traditional top-down methods to highly participatory approaches, decision-making about what, where, and how to rebuild can empower people while shaping safer and future-proof cities."