A study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) between 2002 and 2005 had already anticipated the high seismic risk in Caracas and La Guaira, identifying structural weaknesses that were reflected in the devastation caused by the recent earthquake.
The final report, delivered in March 2005 to then-President Hugo Chávez, clearly warned of the vulnerability of the Venezuelan capital and adjacent coastal areas, recommending stronger building codes and urban planning. More than two decades later, the document has resurfaced on social media, reigniting debate about the lack of preventive measures.
