CARACAS— Venezuela's confirmed death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck the country's northern coast on June 24 has risen to 2,595 as rescue crews continue recovering bodies from collapsed buildings, while officials acknowledged that the operation is increasingly shifting from searching for survivors to long-term recovery efforts.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said the latest official toll includes more than 2,500 fatalities, with over 11,000 people injured. Authorities have not released an updated figure for those still missing, but rescue operations remain underway in the hardest-hit coastal state of La Guaira and surrounding areas.
Emergency workers and international search-and-rescue teams have faced persistent challenges, including unstable buildings, hundreds of aftershocks, damaged transport links and shortages of heavy equipment needed to reach victims trapped beneath debris. Officials said the likelihood of finding additional survivors has diminished as more than a week has passed since the earthquakes.
Rodriguez defended the government's response to criticism from residents and some aid groups, saying thousands of emergency personnel were deployed immediately after the disaster and that national emergency protocols had been activated. She said rescue and relief operations would continue alongside efforts to provide shelter and medical assistance for displaced families.
International rescue teams from several countries have joined Venezuelan responders, while humanitarian organizations are expanding relief operations. The United Nations is preparing additional emergency supplies, including body bags, and international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, have pledged assistance for relief and reconstruction efforts, according to officials.
The earthquakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela, with La Guaira among the areas suffering the heaviest damage. Thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed, leaving many residents displaced and straining hospitals and public infrastructure.
The government has announced plans to establish a $200 million reconstruction fund as authorities begin assessing longer-term recovery needs. Search teams remain deployed in affected communities, though officials said operations are increasingly focused on recovering victims and supporting displaced residents as the humanitarian response continues.
