06.07.2026 22:10
In the La Guaira state, which was hit hardest by the twin earthquakes that shook Venezuela, it has been claimed that 160 blocks of a 192-block massive social housing complex built by a Turkish company have collapsed or become completely unusable.
Following the severe earthquakes that struck Venezuela's northern coast, the durability and safety of public housing built under the state program Misión Vivienda (Housing Mission) have become a topic of debate.
The mass housing project named after former President Hugo Chávez, located in the most affected state of La Guaira, suffered extensive destruction.
CLAIM 160 OUT OF 192 BLOCKS COLLAPSED
According to allegations, 160 of the 192 blocks of the social housing complex built by Turkish contracting company Summa collapsed or became completely uninhabitable due to the earthquakes. The destruction of these buildings, part of the social housing projects, has brought construction inspections and processes in the country back into the spotlight.
"THEY FINISHED IT IN LESS THAN A WEEK"
Local workers and union representatives involved in the construction process stated that the buildings were completed very quickly, with schedules allocating less than a week per block. Structural experts and construction chamber representatives criticized the quality of materials used, such as light metal and chipboard, and their suitability for the region's alluvial soil structure.
TWIN EARTHQUAKES DEVASTATED THE COUNTRY
The toll continues to worsen following twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, just 39 seconds apart. According to the latest official data released by Venezuela's Ministry of Information, the number of fatalities has risen to 3,342, while the number of injured stands at 16,470. It was reported that thousands of buildings were damaged due to the earthquakes, which caused widespread destruction in the capital Caracas and the coastal La Guaira, leaving over 17,000 people homeless, and there are concerns that the death toll may rise as many people remain unreachable under the rubble.