The official death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 continues to rise weekly. On Tuesday, an additional 176 fatalities were confirmed, bringing the total to 6,301, according to figures released by Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela's Parliament and brother of interim president Delcy Rodríguez.
The two consecutive tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit hardest in La Guaira state and the metropolitan area of Caracas, marking the most devastating seismic event in the country's recent history.
Impact and Response
Jorge Rodríguez also reported that 73,356 individuals have received medical care since the disaster, and authorities have assessed 53,314 homes: 31,336 are deemed habitable, 12,411 have usage restrictions, and 9,567 are at high risk.
Despite the scale of the disaster, the Venezuelan government has only provided 287 homes to those affected so far. Cleanup crews have removed more than 483,000 tons of debris.
Economic and Infrastructure Challenges
The World Bank has estimated the direct physical damages from the earthquakes at $19.6 billion, with nearly half concentrated in residential buildings and about 47% of the total economic impact affecting La Guaira and the Capital District. The organization warned that a slow reconstruction process could hinder the country's economic recovery for the next decade.
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by worsening power outages. Diosdado Cabello, secretary general of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and Minister of the Interior, attributed the widespread blackouts to the June earthquakes and the El Niño phenomenon.
Controversy Over Power Outages
The blackouts have sparked protests in various states. However, the Venezuelan opposition and independent experts argue that the electricity crisis predates the earthquakes and is the result of decades of corruption and neglect, not external factors. The Chávez regime has struggled with chronic electricity generation shortfalls, ranging from 2,000 to 2,400 megawatts daily, causing outages that affect 90% of Venezuelan households, according to the ENCOVI 2025 survey.
At the beginning of August, Delcy Rodríguez urged citizens to conserve electricity and water, citing a "Super Niño," and announced a plan to add 4,800 megawatts to the grid by the end of the year. On Saturday, she appointed Juan Crisóstomo Fernández as the new head of the state-owned Electric Corporation (Corpoelec).
Call for Updated Building Regulations
The Venezuelan Society of Engineers demanded an update to the country's seismic-resistant standards, last revised in 2019, and proposed establishing a National Seismic Resistance Commission to assess collapses and recommend public policy measures for reconstruction and urban planning.
The death toll has steadily increased since the initial reports: 32 fatalities on June 24, nearly 2,000 by the end of that month, over 5,000 by mid-July, and 6,125 at the beginning of August, prior to the new total of 6,301.
Key Questions Regarding Venezuela's Earthquake Aftermath
How many people have received medical assistance since the earthquakes?
Since the earthquakes, 73,356 individuals have been provided with medical care.
What is the estimated cost of the earthquake damages?
The World Bank has estimated the direct physical damages from the earthquakes at $19.6 billion.
What steps is the Venezuelan government taking to address the power crisis?
The government has announced a plan to add 4,800 megawatts to the grid by year-end and has appointed a new head for the state-owned Electric Corporation.