CARACAS — The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 has risen above 2,000, according to official figures, as authorities and humanitarian agencies continue recovery operations across the country's hardest-hit coastal and urban areas.
Venezuela's information ministry said the confirmed number of fatalities had climbed to more than 2,600, while over 12,000 people were reported injured and around 15,000 displaced by the disaster. The updated figures superseded earlier official counts that had placed the death toll above 2,000 as rescue teams continued searching damaged neighborhoods.
The two powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck within seconds of each other near the Caribbean coast, causing extensive destruction in Caracas, La Guaira and surrounding communities. Hundreds of residential and commercial buildings suffered severe damage or collapsed, while critical infrastructure, including roads and public services, was disrupted.
Officials said emergency workers, members of the armed forces and volunteers remained engaged in search, rescue and relief operations. Temporary shelters were established for displaced residents, while medical teams continued treating thousands of injured people.
Authorities said the casualty figures could continue to change as recovery efforts progressed and additional victims were identified. They did not immediately provide an updated estimate for the number of people still missing.
International humanitarian organizations, including United Nations agencies and regional partners, have mobilized emergency assistance to support Venezuela's response. Aid efforts have focused on emergency shelter, healthcare, clean water, sanitation and food supplies for affected communities, while public health experts have warned that overcrowded shelters increase the risk of disease outbreaks.
The earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in decades and triggered hundreds of aftershocks, although authorities said their frequency and intensity had gradually declined in the days following the disaster. Rescue officials cautioned that damaged buildings remained vulnerable to additional collapses, urging residents to follow evacuation and safety guidance issued by emergency agencies.
Government officials said damage assessments and recovery planning were continuing as engineers inspected buildings and infrastructure across the affected regions. Authorities said they would continue updating casualty figures as search and identification efforts progressed.
