A Greek scientific mission will travel to Venezuela as part of the international scientific, technical, operational, and humanitarian assistance effort directed at regions struck by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale. The mission is being carried out within the framework of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Goal: scientific investigation of the geodynamic and seismotectonic regime
Among those participating in the mission is Efthymis Lekkas, emeritus professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and president of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (EPPO). According to an official statement from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the mission’s objectives include the scientific investigation of the geodynamic and seismotectonic regime of the affected area, the mapping and assessment of impacts on infrastructure and the built environment, the study of effects on the natural environment, and the provision of scientific and humanitarian assistance to local authorities.
According to the initial operational plan, the mission will arrive at Valencia Airport, which remains operational, and will then deploy to the affected areas of the greater Caracas region, as well as the cities of Valencia, Caraballeda, Catia La Mar, and La Guaira, where it will conduct on-site inspections, scientific documentation, and technical assessments of the earthquakes’ impact. As the official statement emphasizes, Greece’s participation in the mission “reaffirms our country’s enduring commitment to strengthening international cooperation in disaster risk reduction and providing specialized scientific and humanitarian assistance to areas affected by large-scale natural disasters.”
