Venezuela earthquake death toll exceeds 6,000 amid slow debris removal

More than five weeks after a powerful double earthquake struck Venezuela, the death toll has surpassed 6,000, according to official figures. The National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced that 6,125 people have died as a result of the devastating tremors.

Debris removal efforts are ongoing, with authorities having cleared about 346,000 tons of rubble. This amount represents only 16.5% of the 2.1 million tons of debris estimated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

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A total of 6,125 people have died, according to official figures.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, hit Venezuela on June 24. They caused significant damage, with the World Bank estimating immediate property damage at nearly $20 billion, nearly half of which affected residential buildings. The states of La Guaira and the capital district of Caracas were particularly hard-hit. While official missing person numbers are unavailable, unofficial websites suggest over 29,500 people are still unaccounted for, indicating the death toll may continue to rise.

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346,000 tons of debris have been cleared.