Venezuela quake death toll nears 3,535, thousands homeless

The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has risen to 3,535, as authorities confirmed on Monday that nearly 18,000 people remain homeless more than a week after the disaster struck.

Top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez announced the latest official figures, which also include 16,740 injured individuals. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which hit within seconds of each other on June 24, caused widespread destruction in the capital and coastal areas.

The scale of the disaster is becoming increasingly clear, particularly in Caracas and the hardest-hit coastal area of La Guaira. At least 12,800 people are currently staying in 80 shelters across these regions, according to Venezuela's social vice presidency.

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An event associated with or following an earthquake is the setting up of temporary shelters or camps. These health risks are related to overcrowding, limited ventilation, interrupted access to safe drinking water, water and sanitation issues, and inadequate handling of food and waste.

However, health risks are escalating in these temporary sites. Dr. Mauricio Cerpa Calderon of the Pan American Health Organization warned of potential outbreaks of respiratory infections, diarrhea, skin diseases, and vaccine-preventable illnesses due to overcrowding, limited ventilation, and inadequate access to safe water and sanitation.

Amid growing frustration over what many Venezuelans describe as a late and inadequate government response, officials have defended their actions. Security forces were deployed immediately, and a new military unit is being created to manage future emergencies. International humanitarian organizations have also voiced criticism.

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Respiratory infections, diarrhea, skin diseases, wound infections, dengue, and vaccine-preventable diseases such as tetanus, measles, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis and polio.