Venezuela earthquakes death toll jumps to more than 3,500

Key Points:

• Over 3,500 people have died and nearly 18,000 remain unhoused following twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela on June 24, primarily affecting Caracas and La Guaira.
• The disaster damaged or destroyed an estimated 60,000 buildings, with at least 12,800 people currently sheltering in 80 locations across the hardest-hit coastal regions.
• A growing health crisis is emerging as displaced individuals face overcrowded shelters, lack of clean water, untreated injuries, and rising infectious diseases, straining Venezuela’s already fragile healthcare system.
• Frustration with the government’s slow and inadequate rescue and recovery response has led citizens, civil society, and volunteers to take the lead in search, aid distribution, and relief efforts.
• Authorities continue to transport bodies for burial amid ongoing challenges, while calls for improved sanitation and disease prevention measures in shelters remain urgent.