Venezuela Quake Death Toll Rises to Nearly 3,000

Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes, which struck on June 24, have claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, according to updated official figures released on Saturday. The death toll jumped by over 300 from the previous day, bringing the total to 2,954. The disaster has left thousands homeless, seeking shelter in camps, with tens of thousands more still missing. The United Nations estimates that as many as 50,000 are unaccounted for following the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors.

The earthquake disaster, one of the worst in Latin America's history, hit the coastal La Guaira area north of the capital Caracas particularly hard, flattening numerous residential complexes. Ten days after the powerful shocks, which occurred just 38 seconds apart, international rescue teams are beginning to wind down their search operations for survivors. Families, however, continue to search for bodies of loved ones amidst the wreckage. The critical window for earthquake rescues typically closes after 72 hours, though a few survivors have been found this week.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez held a ceremony to award medals to international rescue teams, including those with search dogs, signaling the likely end of rescue missions. Rodriguez acknowledged the "profound grief gripping our people, where families still hold out hope of finding loved ones alive, people who have lost everything." International teams, including some from the United States and South America, confirmed they were concluding their operations. The Los Angeles County fire department rescue team, for instance, is ending its efforts after finding no signs of life, with teams from Florida and Virginia preparing to depart.

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We're still working, still searching for bodies. We're still going. It hasn't been easy. We found two bodies that have already been released to their families.

Many Venezuelans have voiced anger over the government's perceived slow response, with some reporting that families had to dig out loved ones themselves in the initial hours before international aid arrived. Rodriguez has defended the government's actions, stating that thousands of troops and officials were deployed. In La Guaira, workers began demolishing collapsed structures on Saturday, while in other areas, families continued their desperate search for bodies. "We're still working, still searching for bodies. We're still going. It hasn't been easy," said Venezuelan volunteer Francisco Sasquia, who was helping excavate a collapsed residence. "We found two bodies that have already been released to their families."

The economic impact of the earthquakes is significant, with the United Nations estimating $6.7 billion in physical damage, equivalent to six percent of Venezuela's GDP. This comes as the oil-exporting nation was already grappling with decades of economic crisis and political upheaval that had weakened its infrastructure and healthcare systems.

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My administration will continue to work on religious harmony among all faiths. Our bishops and religious leaders have been doing a great deal.