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Overview

To: Condominio Edificio Atrium.

From: Yanervis Fariña, Operations Manager at En Ascenso 2011 C.A.

Date: July 6, 2026 (Valencia, Venezuela).

Purpose: To report on the technical status of the building’s vertical transport systems following an earthquake recorded on June 24, 2026. The inspection aimed to verify structural, mechanical, and electrical integrity in accordance with Venezuelan COVENIN 621 safety regulations.

Inspection Scope

The technical team performed an exhaustive review of critical components across both the right and left elevator systems, including:  Guide rails and fixings (alignment, verticality, and structural supports).  Counterweight systems (sliding elements and guiding).  Traction and traveling cables (tension and checking for seismic-induced tangles). Elevator pit and machine room (motors, brakes, electrical panels, and general cleanliness). Inspection

Results

Elevator No. 4596: The counterweight was found off its rail. Technicians repositioned, verified, and adjusted it. It has been left turned off under normal conditions.

Elevator No. 4594: The system was found with its safety features activated. It was verified and has also been left turned off under normal conditions.

Elevators No. 4593 / 4595 / 4597: These units suffered no structural or mechanical damage. Following successful safety testing, they have been left fully operational.

Recommendations (Preventive Alert Period)

Due to the ongoing potential for seismic aftershocks, the company advises the following:

Immediate Shutdown: If any unusual vibration, strange noise, or malfunction is detected in the active elevators, they must be turned off immediately, service suspended, and emergency technical assistance notified.

Conscious Use: Residents are encouraged to use the stairs when possible, leaving the operational elevators available for emergencies or individuals with reduced mobility.

Vigilance: Stay alert to any unusual behavior from the elevator systems.

Overview of the Inspection

• Inspected Property: Atrium Building (Edificio Atrium).
• Location: El Rosal, Chacao Municipality, Miranda State, Venezuela.
• Date and Time of Inspection: June 26, 2026, from 4:23 PM to 6:13 PM.
• Purpose: To evaluate building damage following an earthquake that occurred on the holiday of June 24, 2026.
• Inspectors: Civil Engineers Antonio Iachini, Andrés García, and Alejandro Chirinos, on behalf of the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (FUNVISIS).

Building Profile

• Usage: Mixed-use (Commercial and Offices). It houses private corporate offices, various Chacao municipal government offices, the Caracas Stock Exchange, and the Embassies of Italy (located on the Penthouse floor) and South Africa.
• Structure: Built in 1988, the building consists of 13 floors (10 office floors, 2 commercial levels at the base, a mezzanine, and a ground floor) and 6 basement parking levels accommodating up to 330 vehicles. Its structural system relies on reinforced concrete frames with circular and rectangular columns, beams, and ribbed floor slabs.

Key Findings & Observations

The visual inspection evaluated both internal and external components of the building:

1. Structural Elements (No Damage)

• • Beams, Columns, and Slabs: Found fully intact with no visible cracks.
  • Beam-Column Joints (Nodes): Intact with no visible cracking.

2. Non-Structural Elements (Damaged)

• • Internal Walls: Suffered cracking but have maintained their vertical alignment.
  • Emergency Stairwells: The decorative, open-work brickwork (ladrillos calados) in the north and south stair cores shows cracks and separation, posing a falling hazard.
  • Elevator Lobby: Displacement of the granite cladding around the elevator frames was observed.
  • Building Facade: Clay tiles (tablillas de arcilla) have detached and fallen off the exterior walls.
  • Roofing / Terrace: The asphalt waterproofing membrane surrounding the glass roof over the main lobby shows separations at several spots. This is causing rainwater to leak into the interior and damage the drywall ceiling.

Final Decision & Classification

• Safety Rating: Yellow Tag (Class B) – Restricted Access / Enter with Caution.
• Justification: While the main structural frame (beams, columns, slabs) remains completely unaffected, the overall safety of the building is compromised due to falling hazards from the damaged emergency stairwell brick walls and the detaching exterior facade tiles.

Recommendations & Security Measures

The inspectors ordered the immediate implementation of the following actions:

• Perimeter Safety: Cordon off affected exterior zones and restrict pedestrian and vehicular traffic nearby to protect users from falling debris.
• Access Control: Establish a temporary pedestrian path through the basement to guide users safely into the main reception and elevator area (pending an inspection of elevator functionality by specialists).
• Urgent Repairs:
  • Demolish and rebuild the damaged open-work brick walls in the emergency stairwells to ensure safe evacuation routes.
  • Remove and repair all loose or detached clay tile cladding on the facades.
  • Repair internal and external wall cracks caused by the seismic movement.
  • Fix the separated asphalt membrane around the glass roof to stop the water leaks.
  • Waterproof all building planters and clear out their drainage systems.