Venezuela Quake Cleanup Raises Disease and Contamination Risks
Experts warn contaminated rubble and disrupted water systems could fuel diarrheal disease, dengue and other illnesses as cleanup continues.
- More than a month after the June 24 earthquakes, workers are managing 1.2 million tons of debris in La Guaira, Venezuela, with experts warning that improper handling of hazardous materials threatens to spread contaminants and disease.
- The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes on June 24 killed over 5,000 people and left nearly 18,000 homeless, resulting in $19.6 billion in physical damage that overwhelmed a Venezuelan health system already weakened by economic crisis.
- Dr. Mauricio Cerpa of the Pan American Health Organization identified 18 priority diseases, including dengue and respiratory infections, noting that overcrowded shelters and disrupted sanitation create dangerous conditions while volunteers report illness from breathing silica and cement dust.
- According to Joaquín Benítez of Andrés Bello Catholic University, contaminated material like asbestos and fuel residues requires specialized disposal, though experts fear seasonal rains could trigger landslides on earthquake-weakened hillsides during reconstruction efforts.
- Alycia Clark of Direct Relief warned that the earthquakes compounded existing shortages of medicine and infrastructure, emphasizing that the next phase of recovery must prioritize restoring safe water and sanitation to prevent secondary health emergencies.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Venezuela quake recovery enters health crisis as dust, water and debris risks grow
A month after Venezuela's earthquakes, survivors and aid workers are battling dust, debris and unsafe water. Experts warn weak health services and hazardous waste could trigger fresh crises without swift action.
Associated Press News
After Venezuela's quakes, experts say environmental and health risks have just begun
More than a month after Venezuela's devastating earthquakes, public health experts tell The Associated Press the coming weeks are critical to prevent secondary crises from contaminants.
59 years ago, the telluric movement of magnitude 6.5 devastated Caracas, leaving a balance of 283 dead.
More than a month has passed since the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, and the constant sound of heavy machinery still resonates in the hardest hit neighborhoods of La Guaira, on the north coast.
How Metallica’s All Within My Hands Is Supporting Earthquake Recovery in Venezuela
As communities in Venezuela recover from the devastating earthquakes that struck the country’s northern coast in June, a $100,000 grant from Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, is helping Direct Relief provide requested medicines, medical supplies, and emergency funding as health needs continue to evolve. The grant adds to an outpouring of private support for the response, including contributions from people in 82 countries. Because Dir…
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