Death Toll in Venezuela Earthquakes Rises to 2,954 as Rescue Operations Near End
The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 2,954, with more than 16,000 people injured as authorities continue assessing the devastation.
Venezuela, PUREWILAYAH.COM – The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has climbed to 2,954, according to official figures released on Saturday.
The updated toll marks an increase of more than 300 deaths since Friday. Authorities also reported that more than 16,000 people have been injured as a result of the disaster, which left widespread destruction and thousands of people missing.
According to Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, 6,462 people have been rescued, while 16,309 people have been displaced from their homes. Authorities have established 80 temporary shelters to accommodate those affected.
Rodríguez said 856 buildings were damaged, including 190 that collapsed, most of them in the northern coastal state of La Guaira, the area hardest hit by the earthquakes. He added that 3,281 international rescue personnel and 26,984 registered volunteers have participated in relief operations.
Authorities also reported 942 aftershocks since the twin earthquakes struck the country.
Search Operations Draw to a Close
Ten days after the earthquakes, rescue teams are concluding search operations as hopes of finding survivors have become extremely slim.
The government is continuing to assess damage to infrastructure while accelerating debris removal efforts. Meanwhile, many families are still struggling to recover the bodies of relatives trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, are considered the deadliest to hit Venezuela in the past century.
The previous deadliest earthquake occurred near Caracas in 1967, killing 245 people, injuring thousands, and causing extensive damage.
The latest disaster affected Caracas and six northern states, with La Guaira suffering the most severe destruction. The coastal region was also the site of the devastating 1999 landslides, which claimed thousands of lives. (PW)