Venezuela Quakes Claim Over 3,300 Lives, Leave Thousands Injured

Northern Venezuela is grappling with the aftermath of powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, that struck on June 24. The tremors have caused widespread devastation to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, alongside a significant human toll that continues to be tallied as rescue and recovery operations proceed.

Official reports indicate a grim toll, with the number of fatalities rising to 3,342 and injuries reaching 16,740. The state of La Guaira has borne the brunt of the disaster, emerging as the most heavily impacted region in the country. The number of missing persons remains unquantified.

International citizens have also been affected, with Spain confirming 35 Spanish nationals dead and 140 missing. Portugal reported 95 citizens deceased, including 17 minors, and 58 still unaccounted for. A citizen initiative, 'Desparecidos Terremoto Venezuela,' has logged over 31,000 individuals who cannot be contacted.

Currently, 29,567 military and security personnel are deployed in the affected zones, supported by 27,482 volunteers. The last survivor, Hernán Gil, was rescued on July 2 after being trapped for eight days. International disaster response teams have started their withdrawal, with coordination now transferred to Venezuela's Civil Protection.

Local teams and volunteers continue the arduous task of sifting through debris in La Guaira, searching for hundreds presumed buried. Since the initial quakes, Venezuela has registered 995 aftershocks, with seismic activity remaining high. International teams are scaling back their presence, underscoring the ongoing local efforts in the face of immense devastation.