Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 3,685; Thousands Displaced

The death toll from earthquakes that struck Venezuela nearly two weeks ago has climbed to 3,685, with injuries reaching 16,740, according to official figures. This represents an increase of 150 fatalities from the previous day's count. Jorge Rodríguez, president of Parliament, reported that 6,462 people have been rescued, a number unchanged since Thursday. However, 17,907 individuals have lost their homes, leading to the establishment of 87 temporary camps, five more than reported on Monday.

Official data indicates that 856 buildings have been affected and 190 have collapsed. Approximately 86,794 families have received assistance, and 9,603 tons of food have been distributed. A significant deployment of 29,567 military and security personnel is on the ground, supported by 28,362 registered volunteers. Authorities have provided a phone number and digital platform for reporting missing persons, but the last update on individuals unaccounted for was on June 25, the day after the earthquakes, when 157 were reported missing.

The citizen initiative 'Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela' has logged over 30,000 reports of people whose whereabouts remain unconfirmed. This double earthquake event is the deadliest in Venezuela in the last century, surpassing the 1967 Caracas earthquake, which killed 245 people. The recent tremors impacted Caracas and six other northern states, with La Guaira, a coastal area previously devastated by a landslide in 1999, being the most severely affected.

International aid from countries including France, Portugal, and China continues to arrive. A contingent of two hundred miners has joined the search and recovery efforts for victims. The interim president has requested assistance from "seismic countries" such as Japan, Peru, and Chile for specialists to aid in the ongoing search for loved ones among the rubble.