Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs to 2,954

Venezuela is reeling from a devastating double earthquake that struck on June 24, leaving a provisional death toll of at least 2,954 and 16,592 injured. The powerful tremors have displaced over 16,000 residents, with 856 buildings reported damaged. The United Nations has issued a grim estimate, suggesting the number of missing persons could reach as high as 50,000.

The northern region of the country bore the brunt of the seismic activity. La Guaira, a coastal city near the capital Caracas, saw entire buildings reduced to rubble, appearing flattened like "mille-feuilles." Many survivors are left without shelter, seeking refuge in precarious conditions in parks, with little prospect of immediate assistance. Caracas also sustained damage, though significantly less severe than in La Guaira.

The seismic event comprised two main shocks, occurring just 39 seconds apart. The first, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, struck at a depth of 21.9 km approximately 200 km west of Caracas. It was followed by a second tremor at a 10 km depth, 45 km away. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported about twenty aftershocks. This 7.5 magnitude quake is the strongest to hit Venezuela since 1900, a nation already grappling with a years-long economic crisis and a population of nearly 30 million.