Venezuela's Twin Earthquake Death Toll Passes 3,800 as UN Appeals for $300 Million

More than 16,700 people have been injured and thousands remain displaced two weeks after the June 24 quakes, with over a thousand aftershocks recorded since

The number of people killed by the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen above 3,800, as the United Nations issues an urgent appeal for close to $300 million to fund the relief effort.

Jorge Rodriguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, said on Wednesday that the death toll had reached 3,811, with more than 16,740 people injured and thousands still displaced from their homes.

Rodriguez said 87 temporary camps had been established for those left without shelter, and that 27,398 people had received medical treatment so far. Relief supplies had reached 86,794 families, he added, including 9,603 metric tons of food and more than 9.6 million litres of water distributed to those affected by the disaster.

A vast rescue operation

According to Rodriguez, 30,076 personnel and 28,992 volunteers have been deployed in the aid effort, joined by 4,388 foreign rescue workers sent by international relief organisations as part of a global humanitarian response.

Rescue teams have pulled 6,462 people from the rubble across 856 damaged buildings and a further 190 that collapsed outright.

The United Nations launched its appeal for nearly $300 million on Wednesday to sustain the relief operations.

Seismic monitoring institutions have recorded 1,102 aftershocks since the two initial quakes — measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude — struck the country on June 24.

Reference: PressTv