The two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week damaged or destroyed more than 58,000 buildings, according to a preliminary satellite data assessment published by the US Space Agency (NASA).
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Nearly 1,700 people have lost their lives, while thousands remain missing following the twin earthquakes, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale—the strongest to strike the South American nation in over a century.
Researchers Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University stated that "approximately 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed in the affected region," based on satellite radar data captured on June 25, the day after the earthquakes struck.
The researchers relied on data from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellite, which is equipped with high-resolution radar technology.
"This is a preliminary, rapid assessment; it reflects a sudden change in the Earth's surface consistent with damage," the researchers wrote, adding that this figure should be viewed as an indicator only and has not been verified on the ground.
In contrast, the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, reported on Monday that 855 buildings had been damaged, including 189 that collapsed completely.
NASA stated that its satellites are "providing vital support, capturing imagery and data to help field teams assess impacts and guide response efforts."
Source: AFP
