Geologist Andrés Folguera said Venezuela faces a growing sanitary crisis following recent seismic activity [1].
This shift in focus highlights a critical transition from immediate disaster response to long-term public health management. While the initial tremors cause structural damage, the subsequent collapse of hygiene and water infrastructure often leads to secondary health emergencies that can exceed the initial casualty count.
Folguera said the earth will continue to shift. He said the geological nature of the event ensures that the area will experience further tremors before stabilizing [1]. These aftershocks complicate rescue efforts and prevent the safe restoration of essential services.
Beyond the geological risk, the focus has shifted toward the immediate needs of the affected population. The disruption of sewage systems and the lack of clean drinking water create a breeding ground for disease [1].
"Siempre va a haber más réplicas, el problema ahora es sanitario," Folguera said [1].
Addressing the sanitary problem requires a coordinated effort to restore basic utilities, and provide medical aid to displaced residents. Without rapid intervention, the risk of waterborne illnesses increases—a common trend in the wake of seismic events in underdeveloped infrastructure zones [1].
Folguera said that while the tremors are a natural certainty, the sanitary crisis is a manageable challenge if the proper resources are deployed. The priority must now move from monitoring seismographs to deploying health professionals and clean water supplies [1].
“"Siempre va a haber más réplicas, el problema ahora es sanitario"”
The transition from a geological emergency to a sanitary crisis indicates that the immediate physical danger of the earthquake is being superseded by systemic failures in public health infrastructure. In regions with fragile utility grids, the secondary effects of a disaster—such as contaminated water and lack of waste management—often pose a greater long-term threat to the population than the initial seismic event.
