By Eng. Vaughn I. Lezama, B.Sc., FAPETT, M.ASCE, R.Eng.
Registrar, Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT)
CEO and Principal Engineer, Consulting Engineers Associates 2005 Ltd (CEAL)
Introduction
On 24 June 2026, northern Venezuela experienced one of the most destructive earthquakes in its modern history. In an exceptionally rare seismic event, two powerful earthquakes of moment magnitudes (Mw) 7.2 and 7.5 occurred only thirty-nine seconds apart, producing what seismologists describe as a “seismic doublet.” The earthquakes originated along the active tectonic boundary between the Caribbean and South American Plates, approximately 160 km west of Caracas. The shallow depth of the earthquakes, together with their close succession, generated intense ground shaking over a wide area extending across northern Venezuela and into several Caribbean territories, including Trinidad and Tobago.
Initial reports, only three days after the event, indicate that more than 1000 persons had already been counted among those who have lost their lives, thousands injured, hundreds of buildings collapsed or suffered severe structural damage, and critical infrastructure—including hospitals, transportation systems, utilities, and public facilities—significantly affected. Rescue operations continue while authorities assess the full extent of the disaster, with casualty figures expected to rise as recovery efforts progress. The event has been described by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as one of the most significant seismic events affecting Venezuela in more than a century.
A Regional Warning for Trinidad and Tobago
For Trinidad and Tobago, this earthquake is not simply a tragedy occurring in a neighbouring country. It is a stark reminder that our nation shares the same tectonic environment and is exposed to many of the same seismic hazards.
The shaking experienced in Trinidad during the 2018 magnitude 6.9 Venezuela earthquake demonstrated that significant seismic events occurring along the Caribbean–South American plate boundary can directly affect our islands. While the recent earthquake occurred west of Trinidad, it underscores the reality that future earthquakes could occur much closer to our shores.
The principal lesson from this disaster is one that engineers have understood for decades: Earthquakes do not kill people—unsafe buildings do.
Earthquakes Become Disasters When the Built Environment Fails
An earthquake is a natural phenomenon. Catastrophic loss of life is largely the consequence of vulnerable buildings, inadequate engineering, poor construction practices, deficient maintenance, and weak regulatory oversight.
Around the world, countries exposed to similar or even greater seismic hazards have demonstrated that well-engineered buildings, designed and constructed in accordance with modern seismic codes and subjected to effective quality control, can withstand major earthquakes with minimal loss of life. Conversely, where buildings are poorly designed, constructed without competent engineering supervision, or erected without compliance with recognised engineering standards, even moderate earthquakes can result in catastrophic structural failure.
This distinction is fundamental. Engineering cannot prevent earthquakes. However, competent engineering can substantially reduce their consequences by ensuring that buildings and infrastructure possess the strength, ductility, redundancy, and resilience necessary to protect human life during severe ground shaking.
The Quality of the Built Environment Determines National Resilience
The recent Venezuelan earthquake also reinforces an important principle of disaster risk management: the quality of a nation’s built environment is one of the most reliable indicators of its resilience. Countries that invest in sound engineering practice, enforce building regulations, and ensure professional accountability consistently experience lower casualty rates, faster recovery, and reduced economic losses following major natural hazards.
For Trinidad and Tobago, the implications are particularly significant. Although large destructive earthquakes occur relatively infrequently, the country’s proximity to one of the most active tectonic boundaries in the Caribbean means that seismic risk is ever present.
The long intervals between major events often create a false sense of security, leading to complacency among property owners, developers, contractors, and even public authorities. Yet seismic hazards do not diminish simply because they occur infrequently. Instead, risk accumulates as populations increase, urban development expands, and ageing infrastructure continues to deteriorate. This reality places an enormous responsibility upon the engineering profession.
The BOETT’s Responsibility to Protect the Public
The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT), established under the Engineering Profession Act, has a statutory responsibility to protect the public by regulating the practice of engineering, maintaining the Register of Engineers, and ensuring that those who offer engineering services possess the competence, experience, and ethical standards necessary to discharge their professional responsibilities. The Venezuela earthquake reminds us why that mandate exists.
Public safety depends not only upon the existence of engineering knowledge, but upon ensuring that engineering decisions affecting public infrastructure, commercial developments, industrial facilities, and residential buildings are made by competent, registered professional engineers who are accountable for the safety, integrity, and performance of the built environment.
As Trinidad and Tobago continues to pursue sustainable development, infrastructure renewal, and climate resilience, the lessons emerging from Venezuela should serve as a catalyst for renewed commitment to engineering excellence, improved regulatory oversight, enhanced construction quality, and a national culture that recognises engineering competence as an essential component of public safety.
The challenge before us is not merely to rebuild after disasters occur. It is to build correctly before disasters strike. That is the enduring lesson of every major earthquake, and it is the lesson that Trinidad and Tobago cannot afford to ignore.