Venezuela earthquake toll rises to 3,535 dead, 18,000 homeless

Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of powerful earthquakes that struck on June 24, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The latest official figures reveal a grim toll, with the number of fatalities climbing to 3,535. The disaster has left a significant portion of the population displaced and in need of assistance.

In addition to the fatalities, more than 16,700 individuals have sustained injuries. The earthquakes have rendered approximately 17,854 people homeless, with at least 12,800 currently housed in 80 shelters across Caracas and La Guaira. The hardest-hit areas include communities in the La Guaira state, north of the capital, Caracas.

As the focus shifts from searching for survivors to the somber tasks of burying the dead and clearing debris, international rescue teams have started to withdraw. In the heavily impacted La Guaira region, forensic personnel and trucks have been seen transporting coffins, and heavy machinery is excavating trenches for mass burials. Many graves at the La Esperanza cemetery are marked with simple white crosses, all bearing the same date of death: June 24, 2026.

The Venezuelan government's response has faced criticism for being slow and inadequate. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has defended the deployment of security forces immediately after the quakes and announced the formation of a new military unit to manage future emergencies. The United Nations is coordinating with the government to expand aid efforts, though the full extent of the missing, estimated by the UN to be as high as 50,000, remains unknown.

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Some search and rescue teams remain deployed in the affected areas, while other specialized engineering teams and medical support continue to arrive.