Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 3,535, injuries reach 16,740

Venezuela is grappling with the devastating aftermath of twin earthquakes that struck on June 24. The latest official figures, released on Monday by Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez, report at least 3,535 fatalities and 16,740 individuals injured. While the number of wounded remains unchanged from the previous day, the death toll has increased by 193 people.

In addition to the casualties, 17,854 families have lost their homes, prompting authorities to establish 82 temporary camps to house the displaced. Although 6,462 people have been rescued, this figure has not changed since Thursday. Official reports indicate that 856 buildings have been affected, with 190 completely collapsed. So far, 86,794 families have received assistance, and 9,603 tons of food have been distributed.

The government has deployed 29,567 military and security personnel, supported by 27,930 registered volunteers. A dedicated phone line and digital platform were set up for reporting missing persons, but the official count of those unaccounted for has not been updated since June 25, when it stood at 157. However, a citizen initiative, 'Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela,' has registered over 30,000 people who have been unreachable.

The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes represent the deadliest seismic event in Venezuela in the last century. The previous major earthquake occurred in July 1967 near Caracas, resulting in 245 deaths and extensive material damage. The recent tremors have impacted Caracas and six other northern states, with La Guaira, a coastal region, being the most severely affected. International rescue teams have largely withdrawn after twelve days, leaving Venezuelan volunteers, firefighters, and local residents to continue the arduous task of clearing debris from collapsed buildings.