CARACAS - A dangerous cocktail of tectonic positioning, loose earth and shoddy construction contributed to the unprecedented damage caused by Venezuela's twin earthquakes, experts say. Jennire Garcia's home in the coastal Catia La Mar neighbourhood was rendered unlivable by the tremors in late June, which devastated the state of La Guaira. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes killed over 6,300 people and sent 190 buildings crashing down, while 856 more sustained damage. The region's "unconsolidated" soils, where construction requires specific geotechnical studies, added to the severity of the damage, according to engineer Feliciano De Santis. Most of these buildings were constructed before the 1967 earthquake, Venezuela's Engineering Order said.