Venezuela earthquake death toll surpasses 5,000

The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24 has surpassed 5,000, according to the latest official figures released by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. In a statement on his Telegram channel, Rodriguez cited the official daily bulletin, reporting that as many as 16,740 people were injured and 17,907 were left homeless. The earthquake caused widespread destruction, with 190 buildings completely ruined and 856 sustaining significant damage.

Search and rescue operations have been ongoing, with 6,462 people saved from the rubble. Medical facilities have treated 36,951 individuals, and assistance has been provided to 128,324 families. Temporary camps have been set up to accommodate 21,235 people across 107 locations, and 10,063 tons of food have been distributed to those affected.

The earthquake struck late on June 24, with two series of tremors registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurring approximately 40 seconds apart. Their epicenters were located 10 kilometers from each other in the Venezuelan state of Yaracuy. Since then, more than 1,330 aftershocks have been recorded, complicating relief efforts and keeping residents on edge.

According to the report by Mehr News, the Venezuelan government continues to coordinate relief operations, with international aid agencies also contributing to the response. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the death toll is expected to rise as search teams reach more affected areas.