Venezuela's Earthquakes Hit a State Already Too Broken to Respond — And That's the Real Danger
Two of the most powerful earthquakes to strike Venezuela in over a century have killed at least 188 people, but the deadlier problem may be what comes after the shaking stops. A country whose hospitals, building codes, and emergency services have already been gutted by years of economic collapse is now facing a disaster that would strain even a wealthy, well-governed state.
Bottom Line
This is a humanitarian crisis amplified by a governance crisis. The earthquakes are devastating on their own, but the lasting consequence will be measured by whether a hollowed-out state and a contested government can absorb international aid and prevent a slow-motion second disaster of disease, displacement, and unmet medical need.
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