Elevators after an earthquake: a necessary pause to protect lives

Published at: 11/07/2026 12:00 PM

After a strong earthquake, an elevator should not be started immediately, even if it apparently starts and moves normally.

The movement can affect rails, cables, brakes, doors, counterweights and electrical systems. Many of these damages are not visible, so international protocols recommend keeping equipment out of service until it is reviewed and certified by specialized technical personnel.

After the double earthquake in Venezuela, the national government applied preventive measures to prevent accidents and established that the reactivation must have a technical report issued by a specialized company registered with SENCAMER.

Municipal governments have also acted in line with these guidelines. The Mayor's Office of Chacao established the prior technical review and the delivery of the corresponding report to reactivate elevators in buildings considered habitable.

For its part, the Mayor's Office of Baruta asked the condominium boards to comply with the established protocol and to have the approval of the companies responsible for reviewing the equipment.

This shows that, regardless of political differences, national and municipal authorities agree on something fundamental: no elevator should start working again without first verifying that it is safe.

The measure does not seek to harm those who live on high floors or to complicate the situation of older adults, people with disabilities or families with children. It's about preventing hidden damage from causing a new emergency.

It's understandable that keeping an elevator turned off creates discomfort, but turning it on without proper servicing can put lives at risk.

It's not about punishing the inhabitants of a building. It's about protecting them. A computer can be repaired, but a life cannot be recovered.

Mazo News Team