Spanish Embassy in Venezuela evacuated as a precaution following earthquake

The Diplomat The Spanish Embassy in Venezuela has been evacuated as a precautionary measure and on the recommendation of local authorities following the double earthquake of June 24. Foreign Ministry sources told The Diplomat that, “although the Spanish Embassy building does not have significant damage and there is no risk of collapse, it was evacuated following the instructions of local authorities and prioritizing the safety of personnel at all times.” “Consular services and other assistance to Spanish citizens have been maintained, using telephone channels,” they added. The recommendation to evacuate the Torre España building, which houses the Spanish Embassy and Consulate General in Caracas, came from the Mayor's Office of the Chacao municipality (Miranda State), which warned Spanish diplomatic authorities about the condition of a nearby building, the ‘Parque San Felipe,’ which has suffered very serious structural damage and is in danger of collapsing. According to the newspaper ‘Crónicas de la Emigración,’ the Spanish Embassy is located about 200 meters from several buildings that collapsed as a result of the earthquake in the Altamira area and also near the La Castellana and Los Palos Grandes, where several buildings were affected by the earthquake. Almost all the buildings in the area have been evacuated. The measure will remain in place, in principle, until this Friday. Municipal technicians believe that the Embassy is outside the perimeter affected by a collapse, but Spanish diplomatic authorities have opted for caution. Among the fifty or so people evacuated are the ambassador, Álvaro Albacete, and his staff, as well as the employees and workers of the Labor, Migration and Social Security, Cultural Affairs, and Interior offices, and the National University of Distance Education (UNED). Access to the facilities of the Consulate General in Caracas has been prohibited since June 27 and it remains closed this week for “technical reasons” and for security reasons.

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