Satellite imagery from the Copernicus system and NASA has provided a detailed mapping of the damage caused by the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela, with estimates indicating over 58,870 buildings damaged or destroyed. Data collected by Sentinel-1 and the NISAR mission are guiding rescue operations and reconstruction planning in a country already strained by years of economic crisis.
Copernicus activates emergency mapping over 13 areas of interest
At the request of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the Copernicus system activated its emergency mapping mode. Using images collected by Sentinel satellites and sensors, the system generated 10 products and 25 maps enabling real-time assessment of damage extent and terrain changes in 13 areas of interest. These tools have helped authorities identify clear zones usable for landing aircraft involved in rescue operations and humanitarian aid delivery. Initial data shows severe damage in the cities of La Guaira and Greater Caracas, as well as impacts on communities in Aragua, Carabobo, Falcón, and Miranda. As of June 27, an estimated nearly 1,300 buildings have been affected in the region.
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NASA activates Disaster Response Coordination System with NISAR data
In parallel, NASA activated its Disaster Response Coordination System to produce a series of maps showing how the earthquakes displaced the Earth's surface, using data obtained by the NISAR mission. According to the agency, these maps provide key insights for emergency managers and scientists. The initiative includes a pilot project aligned with Copernicus that uses radar images captured by Sentinel-1 before and after the earthquakes to assess areas previously identified by the European system. Preliminary results from the mapping model reported damage or total destruction for 58,870 buildings in areas near the epicenter. Each structure identified on the map includes additional information, such as the probability of damage and the coverage fraction, an indicator showing what percentage of the building was analyzed by the satellite. To reduce errors, the system was calibrated using seismic intensity maps produced by the US Geological Survey, ensuring a false alarm rate of less than 1 percent.
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Peru contributes with the PeruSAT-1 satellite
Latin American countries also provided satellite data, including Peru's National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA). The agency made images obtained by the PeruSAT-1 satellite available to the Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE) to support emergency response. Launched in 2016, PeruSAT-1 is nearing the end of its operational life. Orbiting at an altitude of approximately 702 kilometers, it offers sub-1-meter resolution and has captured around 500,000 images used in disaster management, monitoring public works, and detecting illicit activities. ABAE shared data revealing ground deformation associated with movement along the San Sebastián Fault, one of the most significant tectonic features in northern Venezuela and linked to the recent earthquakes. The agency explained that this representation allows visualization of abrupt changes on both sides of the fault, showing where displacement from the earthquakes was concentrated. That data will be particularly useful for scientists aiming to understand the pair of tremors.
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Economic damage estimate using artificial intelligence tools
Recovery is still ongoing in Venezuela, though hopes of finding more survivors are dwindling. Long-term impacts are just beginning to come into focus. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has preliminarily estimated direct physical damage at $6.7 billion, an amount equivalent to about 6 percent of the country's gross domestic product. This estimate was obtained through a satellite assessment conducted using an AI-powered UNDP tool that combines satellite imagery with GIS technology to provide an almost rapid overview of damage and the most vulnerable populations during a crisis. Tools like those developed by Anthropic with Claude Science are accelerating analysis capabilities in emergency scenarios, as demonstrated by this Venezuelan case.
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To learn more about the role of artificial intelligence in scientific research applied to disasters, read the article on Anthropic Claude Science. For further details, consult the original article on WIRED.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/satellite-images-damage-caused-by-venezuela-earthquakes
