A team of British structural engineers has arrived in Caracas to assess the integrity of Simón Bolívar International Airport following a seismic event that briefly shook the terminal building on Tuesday. The tremor, measured at 4.2 on the Richter scale by the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research, caused no immediate casualties but prompted an emergency evaluation of the airport’s infrastructure.
The incident occurred at 14:37 local time, with passengers reporting a sudden swaying of the main concourse. Footage captured by travellers showed ceiling panels vibrating and light fixtures swinging for approximately ten seconds. Airport operations were temporarily suspended as a precaution, with flights diverted to alternate hubs in Maracaibo and Valencia.
The UK delegation, dispatched under the auspices of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Infrastructure Resilience Programme, is expected to spend ten days conducting a detailed survey of the airport’s structural systems. The team comprises specialists from the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Building Research Establishment, with experience in seismic retrofitting and vulnerability assessment.
This intervention follows a bilateral agreement signed in March between the UK embassy in Caracas and Venezuela’s Ministry of Public Works, which prioritises technical assistance for critical infrastructure. The airport, built in 1945 and last renovated in 2010, has been subject to concerns over maintenance standards amid Venezuela’s prolonged economic crisis.
Dr. Alistair Finch, the team’s lead engineer, stated: “Our initial visual inspection suggests the building’s primary steel frame performed as expected for a moderate seismic event. However, we will be conducting non-destructive testing on welds and connections over the coming days. The absence of visible damage does not preclude long-term fatigue issues.”
The assessment is being closely watched by international aviation authorities, given Caracas’s status as a regional transport hub. The British team’s findings will inform recommendations for retrofitting works, which the Venezuelan government has committed to funding through international development loans.
Local authorities have sought to reassure the public. Colonel Manuel Rojas, director of airport security, described the incident as “a routine geological event” and emphasised that the terminal would remain operational throughout the inspection period. However, opposition figures have criticised the government’s reliance on foreign expertise, arguing that it reflects decades of neglect of public infrastructure.
The British delegation is scheduled to deliver its preliminary report to the embassy next week. A full technical assessment is expected within three months.
