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The devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have claimed the lives of nearly 4,500 people, with the official death toll rising to 4,490 as of Sunday. The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, flattened buildings in Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira, leaving over 19,500 individuals displaced and now residing in temporary camps.

Families left homeless have established makeshift settlements in stadiums, plazas, and on sidewalks across La Guaira and Caracas. The government reported that 19,583 people are currently living in these camps. In response to the housing crisis, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced that the government will begin relocating some families into apartments that were under construction before the earthquakes struck.

However, Rodriguez emphasized that significant resources will be required to build more homes, provide rental assistance, and offer loans for property purchases. To address the housing shortage, the government has designated over 40 plots of land in La Guaira, covering approximately 584,000 square meters, for the construction of new residential areas.

International aid has begun to arrive, with Foreign Minister Yvan Gil reporting a shipment from Russia. The U.S. Embassy also confirmed the delivery of 100,000 aid kits to the affected communities. The government has not yet provided an estimate for the number of people still unaccounted for following the disaster.