CARACAS — The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen above 5,000, according to updated figures released by authorities, as recovery teams continue clearing debris and searching damaged areas nearly a month after the disaster.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the confirmed death toll had reached 5,069, an increase from previous official estimates, while the number of injured remained at 16,740. Authorities said the rise reflected bodies recovered during ongoing search and recovery operations, particularly in the heavily affected coastal state of La Guaira.
Rodríguez said 17,907 people remain homeless following the earthquakes, which measured magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 and struck within seconds of each other off Venezuela's Caribbean coast. Officials said more than 128,000 affected families have received some form of government assistance, while over 21,000 people continue to stay in temporary shelters.
Authorities also reported that more than 1,300 aftershocks have been recorded since the main earthquakes, although most have been of lower intensity. Hundreds of buildings suffered structural damage, with nearly 200 reported to have collapsed completely, according to official assessments.
The disaster has prompted an international humanitarian response. The European Union this week announced additional emergency funding to support medical services and relief operations, supplementing earlier assistance provided after the earthquakes.
Questions over the government's emergency response have continued to draw attention. A Reuters investigation, based on interviews with military personnel, rescue workers and other sources, reported that delays in mobilizing troops, confusion over command structures and equipment shortages hampered rescue efforts during the critical hours after the earthquakes. Government officials have defended their response, saying thousands of personnel were deployed and relief operations remain ongoing.
The June 24 earthquakes rank among the deadliest natural disasters in Venezuela's modern history. Rescue operations have gradually shifted toward recovery and damage assessment as authorities work to restore infrastructure and provide housing for displaced residents.
Officials said search and recovery operations will continue in the hardest-hit communities, while engineering teams inspect damaged buildings and public infrastructure. Authorities have not announced a timetable for concluding recovery efforts, and casualty figures may be revised as additional recoveries are confirmed.
