Satellite technology is providing a critical eye in the sky over Venezuela, aiding rescue efforts following devastating earthquakes that struck on June 24. The Copernicus satellite system has generated 10 products and 25 maps, allowing real-time assessment of damage across 13 areas of interest.

Initial data reveals severe damage to cities like La Guaira and Greater Caracas, with an estimated 1,300 buildings affected in the region. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations has requested these images to identify specific locations for rescue operations and humanitarian aid delivery.

NASA's NISAR mission is also providing insights, using data from radar images captured by Sentinel-1 satellite before and after the earthquakes. This helps in assessing areas that have been previously identified as requiring urgent attention. Preliminary results suggest 58,870 buildings may be damaged or destroyed near the epicenter.

Latin American countries are also contributing to this effort, with Peru’s National Commission for Aerospace Research and Development providing satellite data from their PeruSAT-1, which has captured around 500,000 images used in disaster management. The Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE) shared imagery that reveals ground deformation associated with the San Sebastián Fault.

The United Nations Development Program estimates direct physical damage at $6.7 billion – roughly 6% of Venezuela’s GDP. This estimate was obtained through a satellite assessment conducted using an AI-powered tool, which combines satellite imagery with GIS technology to provide a rapid overview of damage and vulnerable populations during crises.