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Before Venezuela earthquakes, engineers warned tall buildings could collapse atop soft soil
By Rong-Gong Lin II, Patrick J. McDonnell, Mery Mogollón at Los Angeles Times - California
· June 27, 2026
· 1 min read
For years, engineers worried about how collapse-prone Venezuela's buildings could be in an earthquake. The big problem, they warned, was the prevalence of tall concrete buildings atop soft soils — the kind that amplify shaking when an earthquake strikes.
Key takeaway The big problem, they warned, was the prevalence of tall concrete buildings atop soft soils — the kind that amplify shaking when an earthquake strikes.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The recent earthquakes in Venezuela bring to mind similar concerns in Los Angeles , where soft soils and tall buildings are also a common combination. Engineers have long warned about the potential risks of collapse in such structures during seismic events, and the city's own building codes and inspection protocols are designed to mitigate these risks. However, the fact that Venezuela's engineers were aware of the potential dangers yet still saw devastating collapses suggests that even with advance warning, the threat of earthquake damage can be difficult to fully prepare for. Los Angeles residents may wonder whether their own city is doing enough to address the seismic vulnerabilities of its tall buildings, particularly in areas with soft soils. The city's building department and emergency management officials will likely be watching the aftermath of the Venezuela earthquakes closely, looking for lessons that can be applied to improve safety in Los Angeles.
About this story
Original reporting by Los Angeles Times - California . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Los Angeles Times - California . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 27, 2026 ·
Source: Los Angeles Times - California ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? For years, engineers worried about how collapse-prone Venezuela's buildings could be in an earthquake. The big problem, they warned, was the prevalence of tall concrete buildings atop soft soils — the kind that amplify shaking when an earthquake strikes.
When was this published? This article was first published on June 27, 2026 by Los Angeles Times - California and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Rong-Gong Lin II, Patrick J. McDonnell, Mery Mogollón at Los Angeles Times - California. To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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