NASA has provided an estimate suggesting that approximately 58,870 buildings were either damaged or destroyed following recent earthquakes. This assessment was derived from analyzing radar images provided by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites, which are capable of detecting alterations in physical infrastructure. According to reports, this figure represents a preliminary estimate generated shortly after the seismic event.
The analysis was conducted by Oregon University researchers, Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek. Their findings indicated “immediate surface change consistent with damage” across the affected areas. Crucially, the researchers emphasized that this data has not undergone on-the-ground validation and should therefore be considered an indicator rather than a definitive count.
The initial assessment by NASA relies on remote sensing technology to gauge the scale of the impact. The report also noted that statements regarding the number of affected structures were issued by officials, such as Jorge Rodriguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, who commented on the extent of the damage on Monday. Overall, the satellite analysis offers a broad overview of the structural losses, pending further ground verification.
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