Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 2,645 With Over 12,000 Injured
The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 2,645, with 12,666 people injured, according to Venezuelan authorities. The Venezuela earthquake has prompted a large-scale official response that continues to evolve as new details emerge from the affected areas.
Rising Casualties and Official Update
Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reported that the death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 2,645, and 12,666 people were injured. [1] Rodriguez, who also heads the command center for temporary camps, provided the update on Friday. [1] The figures align with situation reports noting the same casualty totals following the quakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5. [3] Authorities continue to compile data from the impacted regions, where La Guaira remains the state most affected. [3]
Rescue and Relief Operations
Rodriguez said in an update posted on Telegram that 6,462 people had been rescued and 86,117 families had received assistance. [1] Authorities had set up 59 temporary camps to accommodate those affected by the disaster. [1] The operations involve coordination across multiple states, with responders working to support displaced populations in the hardest-hit zones such as La Guaira. [3] Ongoing efforts include distribution of aid at resettlement sites where people line up for food and other essentials. [1]
Damage Assessment and Aftershocks
The earthquakes damaged 885 buildings and caused 189 others to collapse. [1] Since the powerful earthquakes, Venezuela has recorded 890 aftershocks. [1] The assessment covers structures in areas like Caraballeda in La Guaira state, where rubble from collapsed buildings remains visible. [1] Official reports tie these impacts directly to the June 24 events of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5. [3]
Political Fallout and Public Sentiment
A survey shows 63.3% disapproval for acting President Delcy Rodriguez, with nearly two-thirds disapproving of the government's earthquake response and 45.7% saying new presidential elections are a higher priority than reconstruction. [2] Rodriguez’s disapproval rating climbed to 63.3% in June, up almost 5 percentage points from May, according to an AtlasIntel survey conducted for Bloomberg News between June 26 and 30. [2] Nearly two-thirds of respondents disapproved of the government’s handling of the earthquakes, while 52.4% described the response as “very poor.” [2] Some 45.7% of respondents said that electing a new president is a greater priority than the 32.6% who said reconstruction should come first. [2]
Humanitarian Response Overview
At least seven states were impacted by the earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24. [3] The International Organization for Migration has issued situation reports summarizing the response in support of affected populations and national efforts. [4] Earlier tallies in one report noted at least 2,595 people, with later updates reflecting the higher confirmed figures. [4] Relief coordination focuses on La Guaira as the most affected state while addressing needs in the broader impacted region. [3]
What to watch next: Continued deployment of 3,305 international rescuers and 29,567 emergency responders across the country remains active as authorities track the 890 aftershocks and manage the 59 temporary camps.
