Death toll from Venezuela quakes rises past 6,000

The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen past 6,000, National Assembly Chief Jorge Rodriguez said Monday. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes struck on June 24, killing 6,125 people and destroying nearly 200 buildings, mostly in the coastal state of La Guaira. Rescue teams are still searching for victims weeks after the disaster.

How many people have died in the Venezuela earthquakes?

The confirmed death toll from Venezuela's twin June earthquakes has reached 6,125, according to National Assembly Chief Jorge Rodriguez. That figure is up from a previous count of 5,546. Nearly 17,000 people were injured in the tremors, and search efforts continue in the worst-affected areas.

How many people remain missing after the Venezuela quakes?

La Guaira Governor Jose Alejandro Teran has told local media that around 1,400 people remain missing following the disaster. The national government has not released its own missing-persons figure. Independent expert projections, however, put the number of missing as high as 10,000.

How many buildings were destroyed in the Venezuela earthquakes?

Authorities have confirmed that 190 buildings were completely destroyed in the quakes. More than 16,200 additional structures have been classified as unsafe, forcing many residents to leave their homes. Almost 24,000 people in La Guaira and Caracas are now living in makeshift shelters.

What is Venezuela doing to help displaced earthquake victims?

Venezuelan lawmakers unanimously approved a law Friday making it easier to rent properties, a measure aimed at helping displaced quake victims. The law repeals anti-rental legislation passed under former leftist Chavista administrations. Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez said Monday that around 400,000 homes could benefit from the change, calling it a "win-win" for tenants and property owners.

Who is leading Venezuela's earthquake recovery effort?

Rodriguez has previously pledged to provide 4,000 homes to quake victims by the end of the year, with the government aiming to exceed 10,000 homes in 2027. She is governing under close watch from Washington, after US forces ousted her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, in January.