Venezuela recovers more bodies, as quakes death toll reaches 3,535
Venezuela’s twin earthquakes have left a devastating trail of destruction, with the death toll rising to 3,535 and nearly 18,000 people still without homes more than a week after the powerful tremors struck the capital Caracas and nearby coastal areas.
Latest official figures show 16,740 people were injured, while 17,854 residents were displaced following the earthquakes on June 24, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and struck within seconds of each other.
The scale of disaster has intensified pressure on authorities, with growing criticism from affected communities and humanitarian organizations over the speed and effectiveness of the emergency response.
At least 12,800 people currently are believed to be living in 80 temporary shelters across Caracas and La Guaira. The overcrowded shelters could create additional challenges, particularly if access to clean water, sanitation and medical services is limited.
In the face of mounting accusations of poor handling of the situation, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has defended the government’s handling of the crisis, saying security forces were deployed immediately after the earthquakes.
She also announced the creation of a new military unit dedicated to supporting future emergency and disaster response operations.
However, some Venezuelans have accused authorities of responding too slowly, while international humanitarian organizations have raised concerns over the adequacy of relief efforts.
Meanwhile, the United Nations said it is continuing to increase aid operations in coordination with Venezuelan authorities.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said search and rescue teams remain active in affected areas, while specialized engineering teams and medical personnel continue arriving to support recovery efforts.
Health authorities are also assessing targeted vaccination campaigns in temporary shelters based on risk levels, vaccine availability and national health guidelines.
As Venezuela enters the next phase of recovery, the challenge extends beyond rebuilding damaged areas, with officials and aid agencies now focused on preventing a secondary health crisis among thousands of survivors left vulnerable by the disaster.
