Caracas, July 5: The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 2,954, while 16,592 people have been injured, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Saturday.
According to an official update, 6,462 people have been rescued from the affected regions. The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude, caused widespread devastation across the central states of Aragua, Miranda and La Guaira, as well as the western states of Carabobo, Yaracuy and Falcon.
The disaster has left 16,209 people homeless, with 856 buildings damaged and 190 structures completely collapsed. Authorities have established 80 temporary camps to provide shelter and relief to displaced residents.
Search and rescue operations continue on a massive scale, with 29,567 rescuers, including 3,281 international personnel, deployed across affected areas. Officials also reported 942 aftershocks since the initial earthquakes, hampering rescue efforts and posing ongoing risks.
Earlier, acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared seven days of national mourning in memory of the victims. In a statement, she expressed solidarity with affected families and pledged continued government support during the recovery.
Rodriguez described the earthquakes as a national tragedy, saying Venezuela’s “soul is torn by the human losses” caused by the disaster. Authorities have also warned that tens of thousands of people remain missing, raising concerns that the death toll could increase further as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble. (IANS)
