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Twin quakes, rising toll
Venezuela’s twin earthquakes struck on June 24, when a 7.2-magnitude shock was followed seconds later by another reaching magnitude 7.5, flattening high-rise apartment blocks in Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira.
“at least 4,333 people were killed and more than 16,740 were injured”
Jorge Rodriguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, said Saturday that at least 4,333 people were killed and more than 16,740 were injured, as crews continued clearing rubble in the hardest-hit areas.
Rodriguez also said “more than 31,837 troops and 30,197 volunteers remain deployed across the country to ensure the welfare of the affected population,” and that medical assistance had been provided to 31,193 patients.
The Guardian said the death toll “has passed 4,300,” and it reported that at least 4,333 people were killed and 16,740 injured in the back-to-back quakes on 24 June.
In a separate update, Xinhua reported that the death toll had risen to 4,118 as authorities said crews continued to clear rubble in the hardest-hit areas.
Aid, missing, and camps
Rodriguez said camps for families left homeless have sprung up in stadiums, plazas and on sidewalks, and he put the number of people living in those camps at more than 19,000.
The Guardian reported that thousands more people are listed as missing, while it said rescue teams have halted searches for survivors and family members continue to scour the ruins for their loved ones.
UPI said the United Nations launched an urgent appeal to raise $296 million in relief funding to assist as many as 1.3 million people, and it reported that UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher visited La Guaira on Tuesday.
Fletcher told reporters, “Those mothers asked me last night 'is help coming?'” and he added, “We have to show that we will answer the question from those mothers: help is coming,” as the quake response continued.
In a different count, Channels Television said the death toll topped 4,300 and that Rodriguez did not say how many people were still unaccounted for.
Health risks and recovery
As the immediate search wound down, Al Jazeera reported that regional health agencies warned of an increased risk of disease, citing limited access to clean water and regular medical care for displaced people across Venezuela’s northern coast.
“In the coming weeks, the greatest health risks may stem not only from injuries caused by the earthquakes”
PAHO director Jarbas Barbosa said, “In the coming weeks, the greatest health risks may stem not only from injuries caused by the earthquakes, but also from disruptions to health services,” and he warned of overcrowded conditions, deficiencies in water and sanitation, and reduced access to vaccination and routine healthcare.
The Guardian said the scale of the recovery effort facing Venezuela is huge, and it reported that the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction estimated direct physical damage to housing and infrastructure at about $37bn.
Delcy Rodríguez called for the release of frozen assets held abroad to be used towards recovery, and the Guardian reported that she asked King Charles to release about 30 tons of Venezuelan gold frozen under UK sanctions.
NDTV reported that interim leader Delcy Rodriguez renewed calls for the release of Venezuelan funds frozen abroad to help the country cope with the disaster, while it said the United Nations was trying to raise some $300 million in recovery funds for Venezuela.
