Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 6,509; 25,240 properties uninhabitable

Two months after a devastating double earthquake struck Venezuela, the interim government has reported a preliminary death toll of at least 6,509. The tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, also rendered 25,240 properties uninhabitable. Volunteers and relatives of victims continue to search for bodies in the rubble, especially in the heavily impacted coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas.

The official death toll has risen steadily since the earthquakes on June 24. While authorities have avoided releasing figures for the missing, the number of uninhabitable properties has climbed to over 25,000. In La Guaira, authorities are conducting controlled demolitions of buildings deemed at risk of collapse.

Thousands of citizens are still living in temporary camps, facing precarious conditions and the recent heavy rains. The interim government, led by President Delcy Rodríguez, has promised new housing for those affected. So far, 335 out of a promised 4,000 homes for eligible recipients by the end of the year have been announced.