Venezuelan authorities raised the death toll on Wednesday to over 3,800 following the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s central coast more than a week ago, while the number of injured remains at 16,740.
Jorge Rodríguez, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, announced at a press conference that the death toll stands at 3,811—an increase of 126 from the previous count—with 16,740 people injured. The magnitude 7.5 and 7.2 earthquakes, which occurred in late June, also caused significant damage to 856 buildings, 190 of which collapsed.
The affected population includes 17,907 people who lost their homes or whose homes sustained “very severe” damage, according to national authorities. Officials also reported providing assistance to 86,794 families, rescuing 6,462 people, and distributing over 9,603 tons of food.
Currently, 4,388 international rescue workers and 30,076 personnel are deployed to address the devastation caused by the powerful tremors—which have been followed by 1,102 aftershocks, according to the latest official report from Caracas.
Regarding temporary camps, Rodríguez stated that Caracas is “working rapidly to rectify any issues or obstacles that arise, ensuring that when people arrive at the camps, they feel the reassurance of a friendly hand holding theirs.”
Nearly 17,000 people are currently distributed across 61 camps set up in La Guaira, Caracas, and other affected regions. There, he argued, the “strong psychological impact” suffered by those affected becomes evident, which is why he highlighted the importance of establishing telephone support lines staffed by mental health professionals.
