Satellite Technology Is being used to streamline rescue efforts in Venezuela following the two earthquakes that struck on June 24. Space agencies have shared images with emergency authorities and the Venezuelan government that not only reveal the magnitude of the disaster but also allow response teams to identify where to focus their efforts—and the challenges on the ground.
Following the twin earthquakes in Venezuela, the Copernicus satellite system activated its emergency mapping mode at the request of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Using imagery collected by Sentinel satellites and sensors, the system has generated 10 products and 25 maps that enable real-time assessment of the extent of damage and how terrain has shifted in 13 areas of interest. In addition, these tools have helped officials identify clear areas that can be used for landing aircraft involved in rescue operations and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Initial data from Copernicus shows severe damage in the cities of La Guaira and Greater Caracas, as well as impacts on communities in Aragua, Carabobo, Falcón, and Miranda. The report notes that, as of June 27, an estimated nearly 1,300 buildings have been affected in the region.
For its part, NASA activated its Disaster Response Coordination System to produce a series of maps that show how the earthquakes displaced the Earth’s surface using data obtained by the NISAR mission, “providing key insights for emergency managers and scientists,” according to the agency.
This initiative includes a pilot project aligned with Copernicus’s efforts that, using radar images captured by the Sentinel-1 satellite before and after the earthquakes, assesses the areas previously identified by the European system.
