On Thursday, the Venezuelan government revised its official death toll from the June 24 earthquakes, updating the count to 3,889 fatalities. Nevertheless, this report sparked widespread skepticism on social media, with many citizens demanding clarity on the number of individuals still unaccounted for.
Jorge Rodríguez, the head of the National Assembly and the government's spokesperson for the crisis, released the update through his X account, simply captioning it, "Attention."
The report also detailed that 16,740 individuals were injured, 6,462 people were rescued, 86,794 families received aid, 190 buildings collapsed, and 1,142 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake.
Public Outcry Over Missing Persons
The lack of official data regarding missing persons drew significant criticism from the public. A user, @osa59, questioned, "How do these numbers add up, and what about the missing? Those still under the rubble?" Similarly, Iván Roa (@JivanRoa) and @MarinAmeri69088 expressed their disbelief and accused the government of covering up the disappearances.
Despite repeated updates, Venezuelan authorities have yet to disclose an official count of those missing. Other users pointed out discrepancies in the official figures. @LoydaZea inquired, "Why aren't the rescue numbers increasing if more people are being found?" and sought information about workers in vacation homes during the disaster.
Another user, @ConiBitx, called for greater transparency, emphasizing cases like that of Cristina Ramos, and urged authorities to release a list of those missing, highlighting, "This is like trying to cover the sun with a finger."
Conflicting Independent Estimates
Independent estimates remain significantly higher than the government's official count. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) predicted as early as June 25, with a 42% probability, that the death toll could reach between 10,000 and 100,000. International humanitarian organizations also suggest that tens of thousands might still be trapped beneath the rubble, while citizen platforms such as "Encuéntralos" report over 71,000 missing persons.
Since the initial report on June 24, which recorded 32 deaths, the official count has steadily grown to the current figure of 3,889 fatalities.
Venezuela's Most Devastating Earthquake in Over a Century
The twin earthquakes on June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurring 39 seconds apart, hit Morón, Carabobo state, marking the country's most severe seismic disaster since the early 20th century. La Guaira remains the hardest-hit area, accounting for 158 of the 190 officially collapsed buildings and approximately 1.2 million tons of debris.
The United Nations estimates that the disaster affected 6.76 million people, with economic losses nearing $6.7 billion. Among the casualties are Cuban nationals, with reports indicating that eight have died and at least 20 remain missing, particularly in the regions of Caraballeda, Catia La Mar, and Los Corales in La Guaira state.
Frequently Asked Questions: Venezuelan Earthquake Crisis
What is the current official death toll from the Venezuelan earthquakes?
The Venezuelan government has updated the official death toll to 3,889 as of the latest report.
Why are citizens questioning the official reports?
Citizens are skeptical because the government has not provided information on the number of missing persons, leading to accusations of a potential cover-up.
What are independent organizations estimating about the disaster?
Independent estimates, including those from the USGS, suggest the death toll could be between 10,000 and 100,000, with tens of thousands potentially still missing.