Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to over 4,500

Official sources in Venezuela reported a tragic increase in the death toll from the two devastating earthquakes that struck the country on June 24th. According to a statement released by the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, the documented number of fatalities as of Monday stood at 4,561 people, reflecting the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe still afflicting the country.

Official reports clarified that the number of injured reached approximately 16,740, a toll that is subject to change as relief operations continue. These new figures update the previous count, which had stopped at 4,490 fatalities, indicating the retrieval of more victims from under the rubble of collapsed buildings in recent hours.

Regarding the missing persons file, Venezuelan authorities are still refraining from announcing final figures, despite shocking international estimates. The United Nations had estimated the number of missing at around 50,000 people immediately after the disaster, while other local and international estimates suggest that the number may approach 10,000 missing whose fate remains unknown.

The capital Caracas and the neighboring state of La Guaira were hit by two violent tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, separated by only 39 seconds. This rapid and sudden succession turned entire high-rise residential complexes into piles of rubble, doubling the difficulty of rescue operations and reaching survivors in the initial moments.

Government data indicates that the number of affected people who lost their homes or were directly impacted has exceeded 20,000. Specialized rescue teams from within Venezuela, in cooperation with international missions, are working around the clock to retrieve trapped bodies, under complex field conditions and widespread destruction that affected essential infrastructure in the stricken areas.

In terms of material losses, the government confirmed that more than 850 buildings and vital facilities were damaged by the violent earthquakes. Among these facilities, 190 buildings completely collapsed, posing enormous challenges for authorities in reconstruction efforts and housing thousands who have become homeless under these harsh circumstances.

The updated death toll on Monday reached 4,561 fatalities, with the number of injured remaining at approximately 16,740.