The Chayeb family's three-storey apartment block in La Guaira survived two powerful earthquakes (7.2 and 7.5) that collapsed taller buildings nearby. Owners attribute the survival to the building's low height, quality materials and foundations adapted to unstable coastal terrain. No residents were injured, though some walls cracked. The USGS linked the quakes to the San Sebastian fault and warned of increased landslide risk, prompting calls for revised zoning and building codes.
Standing Firm: How a Three-Storey La Guaira Building Survived Two Major Quakes
Engineer Elias Chayeb (L) and his son, engineer Elias Eduardo Chayeb, were relieved upon seeing a small residential building they helped build had withstood the two violent earthquakes in Venezuela (Juan BARRETO)(Juan BARRETO/AFP/AFP)
Elias Eduardo Chayeb broke down in tears of relief when he saw that the modest three-storey apartment block his father helped build on La Guaira's shore had remained standing amid widespread destruction after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela.
The seafront building in the Puerto Viejo neighbourhood — about 40 km (25 miles) from Caracas and near the city's international airport — was completed around 20 years ago and contains six apartments. While taller, more luxurious towers nearby were reduced to rubble by back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, the Chayebs' low-rise structure sustained damage but did not collapse.
Why It Survived
Both Elias Eduardo and his father, also named Elias, say the building's relatively low height was a decisive factor. They also credit careful material selection, robust foundations adapted to La Guaira's notoriously unstable terrain, and conservative design choices made over the elder Elias's six-decade career.
'The building passed the test,' the elder Elias said, visibly relieved.
Some interior and exterior walls developed cracks, but foundations, windows, staircases and supporting columns remained intact, and — most importantly — no residents were injured. The Chayebs contrast their building's performance with that of taller structures nearby that collapsed within seconds when the quakes hit, often giving occupants little or no time to escape.
Seismic Context And Aftermath
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quakes occurred along the San Sebastian fault system that runs along Venezuela's northern coast. The agency warned that strong shaking could make steep slopes more prone to landslides for months or even years, increasing ongoing risk in coastal and hillside communities.
Reflecting local concern, the elder Elias urged a comprehensive revision of zoning laws and building codes to reduce future risk. Longtime resident Ingrid Palacios, 61, surveyed the destruction and said La Guaira as she knew it 'is gone,' predicting that rebuilding will favor low-rise, small homes and chalets better suited to the terrain.
Key facts: the building contains six units, was built about 20 years ago, lies roughly 40 km from Caracas, and suffered only partial damage with no injuries reported. Local calls for stricter zoning and quake-resistant design have intensified as recovery efforts begin.
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