Death Toll from Venezuelan Earthquakes Continues to Rise

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 has reached 6,438, according to the weekly report from the government program "Plan Venezuela Renace," released Monday by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan Parliament.

This updated tally is 137 more than the 6,301 fatalities reported the previous week, highlighting the ongoing toll of the most devastating seismic event in the country's modern history, nearly two months after it occurred.

The two earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and separated by just 39 seconds, had epicenters near San Felipe in Yaracuy state and Catia La Mar in La Guaira, the coastal areas hardest hit alongside Caracas.

Rodríguez, who is the brother of interim president Delcy Rodríguez, also reported that 86,358 individuals received medical care in hospitals following the quakes, and 6,462 people have been rescued since the emergency began.

Housing and Infrastructure Impact

Authorities have assessed 59,109 residences, determining that 34,680 are safe for habitation, 13,733 have usage restrictions, and 10,696 are deemed "high risk."

The Venezuelan government has provided 335 new homes to those affected, and cleanup teams have removed over 528,000 tons of debris, which is 25% of the estimated total.

The World Bank's analysis reflected the extent of the destruction, estimating direct physical damages at $19.6 billion, which corresponds to 18% of Venezuela's GDP. The organization warned that a slow rebuilding process could hinder the nation's economic recovery over the next decade.

Economic and Social Consequences

Of the damages, 47% pertains to housing, 27% to infrastructure, and 26% to non-residential buildings, with La Guaira and the Capital District accounting for about half of the total damage.

The progression of the official death toll underscores the challenges in accessing the hardest-hit areas: from 164 reported dead on June 25, the count soared to over 4,000 within three weeks, surpassing 6,000 by early August.

On Tuesday, the affected coastal area experienced another quake of magnitude 4.0, centered 10 kilometers northwest of La Guaira, though no additional casualties or damage were reported.

Community Support Initiatives

In a parallel effort to manage the emergency, the private television network Venevisión announced the "Unidos por Venezuela" Telethon to be held on October 17, aiming to raise funds for the impacted communities.

This format has not been organized in the country since the early 2000s and will feature special performances by the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras of Venezuela.