Nearly 4,000 confirmed dead after Venezuela’s twin earthquakes

The devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have claimed the lives of at least 3,889 people, according to a government report released on Thursday. The powerful tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, also left nearly 17,000 individuals injured and displaced almost 18,000 more, who lost their homes.

The death toll saw a slight increase from 3,811 to 3,889, as reported by Jorge Rodriguez, chief of the National Assembly, via Telegram. In response to the disaster, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez called for the release of Venezuelan funds frozen abroad to aid the country's recovery efforts. The United Nations has initiated an urgent appeal, seeking approximately $300 million to support relief operations in Venezuela.

Venezuela is also in discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unblock its financial assets, as confirmed by IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack. The coastal region of La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas, reported significant damage, with over 800 buildings affected and 190 completely collapsing.

Two weeks after the disaster, rescue teams have largely ceased searching for survivors. However, some families continue to hold onto hope. Ciro Ocando, for instance, believes he has located the site where his teenage sons are buried under rubble in Playa Grande, La Guaira. Using his own tools, he is digging through debris, driven by the desire to find his boys, aged 13 and 18, acknowledging that their chances of survival are nonexistent.

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I’m in the right place, but there are a lot of obstacles.