Venezuela Twin Earthquakes Kill At Least 2,954, Official Count Updates

Venezuela’s twin earthquakes have killed at least 2,954 people, an updated official count showed Saturday, with more than 16,500 people injured and thousands still unaccounted for.

The quakes struck on June 24, when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake and a magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit the coastal La Guaira area north of the capital Caracas just seconds apart.

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DW reported that authorities have recorded a total of 942 aftershocks since the quakes, as international rescuers began to wrap up search operations after the “critical 72-hour rescue window” had passed.

International disaster squads, including US and South American teams, were starting to wind down rescue operations, and AFP was cited saying the Florida and Virginia rescue teams were reported to be heading back home this weekend.

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriquez handed out medals to international teams, including their rescue dogs, while saying, “a profound grief gripping our people, where families still hold out hope of finding loved ones alive, people who have lost everything,” Rodriquez said.

Delcy Rodríguez defended Venezuela’s emergency response during a military ceremony marking Venezuela’s independence day, vowing the country would not descend into social unrest and saying, “There will be no social unrest here – what we have here is deep social solidarity.”

The Guardian reported that on Sunday night Venezuela’s information ministry said the number of people killed in the quakes had risen to 3,342 and the number of people injured had passed 16,700.

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Rosa López told The Guardian that her son-in-law José Antonio Toledo was found under the building where he was working as a security guard, but crews turned them away because there was no space.

The Guardian also quoted forensic technician Joel Mirabal saying, “Obviously, mass graves will have to be created,” as he described bodies buried under many layers of debris.

DW reported that Rodríguez strongly rejected allegations that her government’s reaction time was too slow, after some Venezuelans said families spent the crucial initial hours digging out relatives themselves.

Venezuela’s Communication and Information Ministry said Sunday the death toll had climbed to 3,342 with more than 16,700 people injured, while rescue teams continued searching through the rubble of nearly 200 collapsed structures.

The ministry stated 16,740 people had been injured, 17,345 remained homeless, and 856 buildings had sustained damage, including 190 that completely collapsed.

Yeni Safak English reported that international and local relief efforts included Caracas deploying 29,567 personnel and mobilizing 27,482 volunteers, while 4,088 international rescue workers arrived to support search-and-recovery missions.

The same report said seismic monitoring had recorded 995 aftershocks since the main quakes, complicating rescue operations and raising concerns about additional structural failures.

DW said thousands remain unaccounted for and the United Nations puts the number of people unaccounted for at as many as 50,000, as rescue operations wind down and international teams pack up.