CARACAS — The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen above 5,000, according to the latest official figures, as emergency crews continued recovery operations in the country's hardest-hit coastal areas.
Authorities said 5,069 people have now been confirmed dead, while the number of injured remained unchanged at 16,740. Officials attributed the increase in fatalities to ongoing debris-clearing and recovery work, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira, where the strongest destruction was reported.
The interim government led by President Delcy Rodriguez said 1,331 aftershocks have been recorded since the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within minutes of each other. Government figures show 856 buildings have been damaged, including 190 that collapsed completely, while bridges, roads and other infrastructure also sustained significant damage.
Officials said search, recovery and humanitarian assistance operations remain underway. The updated casualty figures reflect confirmed recoveries and may change as authorities continue to assess affected areas.
The earthquakes rank among Venezuela's deadliest natural disasters in recent history. Authorities have not announced the completion of recovery operations, and emergency teams continue working in impacted communities as damage assessments proceed.
