Venezuela Earthquakes Death Toll Rises to 5,069 Amid Ongoing Relief Efforts

The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 5,069. The figure has continued to increase as rescue workers clear debris and search through rubble following the earthquakes on 24 June. International rescue teams joined thousands of Venezuelan emergency workers in efforts to find people trapped beneath the rubble. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the disaster as the “most brutal natural catastrophe” in Venezuela’s history. The Venezuelan government reported that 856 buildings had been damaged, 190 of which had collapsed completely. Hundreds of other types of structures, such as bridges and roads, were also affected. The northern coastal state of La Guaira was the worst hit. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes hit within 39 seconds of each other. More than 1,300 aftershocks have been felt since. Rodríguez said Venezuela had secured $346 million (€302 million) in previously frozen resources from the International Monetary Fund for reconstruction following the earthquakes. More than 20,000 people have been displaced, with many now living in overcrowded temporary camps. Aid organisations have warned that some shelters lack reliable supplies of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, increasing the risk of disease. The IMF and World Bank announced in April that they were resuming relations with Venezuela following the US military intervention that removed Nicolás Maduro from power in January. Relations with the both the IMF and World Bank had been frozen since 2019. The United States has also provided more than $300 million (€262 million) in humanitarian assistance.