Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Exceeds 4,100; Thousands Missing as Recovery Efforts Strain
Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes on June 24 have killed at least 4,118 people and injured 16,740, according to Jorge Rodriguez, head of the Venezuelan parliament. The back-to-back quakes, which struck the coastal state of La Guaira, have left thousands more missing, officials said Friday.
The first earthquake, of magnitude 7.2, was followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5-magnitude tremor — the strongest in Venezuela in over a century. The quakes flattened entire high-rise apartment blocks, reducing them to layers of rubble. Rescue teams have officially abandoned their search for survivors, but family members continue to dig through the ruins, hoping to recover bodies for dignified burial.
On Friday, a 3.0-magnitude aftershock in central Caracas caused momentary panic and led to building evacuations, but no casualties were reported.
The scale of recovery is immense, as state services in Venezuela have been severely degraded by a prolonged economic crisis. The United Nations issued an urgent appeal on Wednesday for nearly $300 million (approximately ₹2,500 crore) to support earthquake relief operations.
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has called for the release of frozen assets held abroad to fund recovery efforts. On Wednesday, she said she asked King Charles III to release about 30 tons of Venezuelan gold frozen under UK sanctions.
The disaster has compounded the challenges facing the nation, which is already grappling with political turmoil and economic hardship. The full extent of casualties and damage remains unclear as communications and infrastructure remain disrupted in affected areas.
