Delcy Rodriguez Blames Private Developers for 80% of Earthquake-Related Building Collapses

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s vice president, said that private developers were responsible for roughly 80 percent of the structures that collapsed during the recent series of earthquakes that struck the country’s northern region. The assessment was made during a press briefing on Tuesday, where officials presented preliminary damage reports indicating that more than 1,200 buildings were rendered unsafe, with the majority located in privately owned residential and commercial complexes.

Government agencies have pledged to prioritize reconstruction efforts and to enforce stricter building‑code compliance for future projects. Authorities plan to launch a joint task force with municipal regulators and private‑sector representatives to audit existing structures, expedite repairs, and implement revised safety standards aimed at reducing vulnerability in subsequent seismic events. The initiative is expected to be funded through a combination of state resources and contributions from the developers whose properties were affected.