Key facts
- The death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 4,734.
- The number of injured stands at 16,740.
- 17,907 people remain homeless following the earthquakes.
- Jorge Rodríguez, a top lawmaker, released the updated figures.
The death toll from twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has climbed to 4,734, according to figures released by top lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez. The number of injured remains unchanged at 16,740, while 17,907 people are still homeless.
The back-to-back quakes, including a 7.5-magnitude tremor, flattened entire districts in the coastal state of La Guaira. Rescue efforts have been halted, but families continue searching for loved ones. A subsequent 3.0-magnitude quake in Caracas caused panic and evacuations.
Venezuela faces a massive recovery effort, exacerbated by a prolonged economic crisis that has degraded state services. The UN has issued an urgent appeal for nearly $300 million for relief operations, aiming to assist 1.3 million people. Direct physical damage to housing and infrastructure is estimated at $37 billion. Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has requested the release of frozen assets abroad, including approximately 30 tons of Venezuelan gold held in the UK, to aid recovery efforts.