Jorge Rodríguez says 315 bodies remain unidentified after the earthquakes

Venezuelan officials have confirmed that 315 bodies remain unidentified in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck on June 24. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stated that these unidentified remains constitute 7% of the total fatalities. He justified the government's reluctance to provide figures for the missing, citing a need to avoid speculation.

Rodríguez announced that 215 new bodies were recovered, bringing the total death toll to 4,333. This significant increase in recovered bodies is attributed to the ongoing and intensified efforts to clear debris and recover victims in La Guaira, the state most severely impacted by the 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude earthquakes. The government has also refuted any existence of mass graves.

In addition to the fatalities, the report detailed the ongoing impact on the living. The number of injured remains at 16,740, with over 31,193 patients treated in hospitals and more than 90% discharged. Approximately 17,907 people are still without housing, and 86,794 families have received assistance. The report also noted that 94 temporary camps are housing 18,437 individuals. The infrastructure damage is substantial, with 856 buildings affected and 190 having collapsed. Authorities have distributed 9,766 tons of food and 13.9 million liters of water. Since June 24, the country has experienced 1,203 aftershocks, including one of low intensity on the morning of the report's publication and another the previous day that prompted evacuations in Caracas and La Guaira.