The collapse of a residential building in La Guaira, Venezuela, has left rescue workers racing against time to locate survivors beneath the rubble. British search and rescue teams have offered specialist assistance, including structural engineers and sniffer dogs, as the international community rallies to support the recovery effort. The tragedy, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, has so far claimed at least 15 lives, with dozens more feared trapped.
Local authorities have declared a state of emergency, citing the risk of further collapses. The building, a 10-storey structure, had reportedly shown signs of instability following recent heavy rainfall. As digital twins of the building are being reconstructed from drone footage to aid the search, the grim reality of climate-exacerbated infrastructure failure looms large.
This is a stark reminder that code and concrete alike require continuous auditing, or we risk losing not just data but human life.
