A Month After Disaster: Venezuela's Double Earthquake in Numbers

One month after powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern region, the scale of the devastation is becoming clearer through updated figures on casualties and damage. The twin seismic events, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude on June 24, have left a trail of destruction in homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

Official government reports indicate a grim toll, with at least 5,546 people confirmed dead and 16,740 injured. The number of missing persons remains a critical concern, although official figures have not been updated since June 25. In contrast, the citizen initiative 'Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela' has registered nearly 30,000 reports of individuals whose whereabouts remain unconfirmed.

The government has convened families of missing children to aid in the identification of 38 bodies held at a morgue in La Guaira, one of the most affected states. The Venezuelan NGO Cofavic has urged adherence to international standards for the recovery and identification of human remains. A total of 6,462 people have been rescued, while 17,907 individuals are now homeless, accommodated in 107 temporary camps housing 23,811 people.

Authorities have refuted recent social media reports claiming the discovery of survivors in La Guaira, nearly a month after the quakes. Currently, 30,989 military and security personnel are deployed, supported by 31,745 registered volunteers. The immense volume of debris is estimated at 2.1 million tons, a figure compiled by the Venezuelan government in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) through drone surveys and field measurements. This includes 1.5 million tons of construction material and 577,000 tons of personal belongings.

While the government reports distributing millions of tons of food and water, and humanitarian aid continues to arrive, most international rescue teams have departed. Approximately 2,278 international brigadistas remain in the country.