espanolLos estudios de vulnerabilidad sismica son determinantes en el analisis y manejo de riesgos en zonas pobladas. Su implementacion permite la determinacion y cuantificacion de danos probables en las construcciones existentes, con miras a establecer politicas, planes y medidas que coadyuven a su control, prevencion y mitigacion y, en consecuencia, evitar o minimizar los posibles danos o perdidas de vidas humanas, los danos materiales a las edificaciones y la afectacion economica a la poblacion. Este trabajo presenta el estudio de vulnerabilidad sismica del sector Pan de Azucar, importante centro poblado cercano a la ciudad de Merida con grandes posibilidades de desarrollo urbanistico y poblacional, basado fundamentalmente en el analisis cualitativo de la tipologia y tecnica constructiva, calidad de materiales, detalles constructivos y previsiones de diseno ingenieril sismorresistente, realizado con fines de determinar el inventario de tipologias constructivas, su vulnerabilidad sismica y potenciales niveles de dano ante los escenarios sismicos probables en la zona de asentamiento. La clasificacion de la vulnerabilidad y la estimacion de los danos en las construcciones existentes se realizo con la aplicacion de la Escala Macrosismica Europea (EMS; ECGS). Se plantearon escenarios sismicos probables en la zona de estudio, cuantificandose las edificaciones que potencialmente exhibirian danos moderados, severos o colapso para cada uno de ellos. Se determino, para los escenarios mas severos, altas concentraciones de edificaciones con tipologias muy vulnerables, especialmente de origen autoctono, con una alta probabilidad de resultar severamente danadas o colapsadas. La metodologia implementada es muy sencilla, versatil, economica y de practica y efectiva aplicacion. EnglishThe seismic vulnerability studies are decisive for the risk analysis and management in populated areas. Their implementation allows the identification and quantification of damages likely to occur in existing buildings in order to establish policies, plans and actions that contribute to their control, prevention and mitigation and, therefore, avoid or minimize any damage or loss of life, material damage to buildings and the economic impact to the population. This paper presents the study of seismic vulnerability of Pan de Azucar area, an important village near the city of Merida with great potential for urban development and population, mainly based on qualitative analysis of the typology and construction techniques, material quality, building details and earthquake-resistant engineering design cautions. The study was carried out with the aim of determining the inventory of building typologies, their seismic vulnerability and potential levels of damage to the probable seismic scenarios in the settlement area. The classification of the vulnerability and the estimated damage to existing buildings was carried out with the implementation of the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS- 98) (ECGS, 1998). Probable seismic scenarios were proposed in the study area, quantifying the buildings that would show potentially moderate damage, severe damage or collapse in each of them. It was determined, for the most severe scenarios, high concentrations of buildings with very vulnerable construction typology, especially of the area typical building, with a high probability of being severely damaged or collapsed. The methodology used is very simple, versatile, economical and of practical and effective application.