Key facts
- The death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 4,829.
- 16,740 people have been injured.
- 17,907 people remain homeless.
- Camps have been established for displaced families.
- The government is allocating land for new housing construction.
The death toll from twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 4,829, according to figures released by top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez. The number of injured remains unchanged at 16,740, while 17,907 people are still homeless.
Camps for families left homeless have sprung up in stadiums, plazas, and on sidewalks in La Guaira and nearby Caracas. The government has allocated more than 40 plots of land for the construction of new homes. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil reported that an aid shipment from Russia had arrived, and the US Embassy stated it has delivered 100,000 aid kits to the affected communities.
Earlier reports indicated that the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes flattened entire high-rise apartment blocks. The government has been coordinating with family members to identify bodies and collect DNA, fingerprints, and dental records. US urban search and rescue teams completed their mission, having helped save six lives, while the Department of State Disaster Assistance Response Team remains on the ground providing critical assistance.