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Death toll rises in Venezuela earthquakes as thousands remain missing
Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to 2,645 as rescue efforts continue
Death toll rises in Venezuela earthquakes as rescue efforts continue
The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has risen to 2,645, authorities confirmed on Friday, as rescue teams scramble to recover bodies amid growing frustration over the official response. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, which struck 39 seconds apart on June 24 near Yaracuy state, have left 12,666 injured and displaced at least 15,000 people, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information . The United Nations estimates up to 50,000 people remain missing, a figure authorities have not addressed.
Rescue operations are now focused on recovering victims in La Guaira, a coastal town where entire residential complexes collapsed. Over 3,300 international workers, including teams from Turkey and the Netherlands, have assisted in the effort, while Caracas deployed nearly 30,000 personnel for relief . The quakes triggered 890 aftershocks, complicating recovery efforts and deepening public anger. In Caracas, residents expressed outrage over the government’s handling of the crisis, with one local newspaper quoting a survivor: *“Il ne reste que des cadavres”* — “Only corpses remain” .
The disaster has also drawn international attention to foreign casualties. Spain confirmed 34 of its nationals were among the dead, the highest reported toll for any country outside Venezuela . Meanwhile, the UN has warned of acute food shortages and disease outbreaks, estimating 1.8 million people require urgent aid .
Provisional President Delcy Rodríguez, who initially reported 2,595 deaths on Thursday, attributed the updated toll to ongoing assessments. The government has not released a missing persons count, despite the UN’s assessment of up to 50,000 . With rescue teams withdrawing and hope fading for survivors, the focus has shifted to recovery and accountability. In a country already grappling with political instability, the quakes have exposed systemic failures in disaster response, fueling public distrust.
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