Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes passes 6,000

Venezuela has confirmed a death toll of 6,125 from two earthquakes that struck in June, with National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announcing the updated figures on Monday via Telegram. The announcement also noted that approximately 61,000 people received hospital treatment following the disasters.

The two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, occurred on June 24 and caused the most severe damage in the coastal state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas. In the immediate aftermath, residents and observers criticized the government and military for insufficient relief efforts as people searched for missing family members and friends.

Recovery efforts remain slow, with Rodriguez reporting that only 16.5 percent of earthquake debris has been cleared. The World Bank has assessed the physical damage from the earthquakes at approximately $20 billion, a figure that underscores the scale of reconstruction needed.

While numerous countries pledged support following the earthquakes, the source and timing of recovery funds remain uncertain. Some advocates have called for the relaxation or removal of remaining U.S. economic sanctions to enable financial assistance to flow into the country more readily.