Venezuela earthquake death toll rises as country seeks normalcy

Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating double earthquake, as the official death toll climbed to 3,535 on Monday, with 16,740 people injured. The country is making efforts to resume normal life, with classes restarting in 18 states and some businesses reopening.

In La Guaira, the coastal state that bore the brunt of the disaster, residents continue to queue for essential food and medicine. Debris removal is ongoing in hopes of recovering more bodies, while the government has appealed to the United Nations for reconstruction assistance for the thousands left without homes.

Twelve days after the earthquakes struck, the Ministry of Education has ordered the resumption of classes in most of the country, though some areas, including parts of Caracas and La Guaira, remain suspended. Rescue teams are still working to clear rubble and recover bodies, though the pace of rescue operations has slowed.

International aid is arriving, with Miami authorities establishing a collection center for earthquake victims at the LoanDepot Park stadium. A Spanish field hospital in Caracas is providing care to survivors, many of whom are suffering from the psychological trauma of the event. The hospital, supported by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, has been treating up to 200 people daily, primarily from government-established refugee camps.