Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 2,645

The death toll from a devastating double earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24 has climbed to 2,645, according to official figures released by the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez. The number of injured has also risen significantly to 12,666. The earthquake, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, is reported to be the deadliest seismic event to hit Venezuela in the last century.

Beyond the casualties, the disaster has left a trail of destruction and displacement. Approximately 15,050 people have been left without homes, and authorities report that 86,117 families have received some form of assistance. The scale of the damage is immense, with 885 buildings affected, including 189 that have completely collapsed. In response, 59 temporary camps have been established to house those displaced by the tremors. Since the initial earthquakes, the affected regions have experienced 890 aftershocks.

The seismic event impacted Caracas and six other northern states. The coastal region of La Guaira appears to be the most severely affected area, a region that tragically experienced a devastating landslide in 1999 that claimed thousands of lives. Preliminary assessments from NASA, based on satellite imagery, suggest that the earthquake may have damaged or destroyed as many as 58,870 buildings across the affected region. The report did not provide an updated figure on the number of people still missing.