Nearly 17,000 people injured and thousands displaced after twin earthquakes devastate the country, damaging hundreds of buildings and disrupting key infrastructure.
Image: Bloomberg.com
The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes has risen to 3,535, with nearly 17,000 people injured and thousands displaced as rescue and recovery operations continue, officials said Monday.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Telegram that 17,854 people remain homeless, while around 18,000 people were displaced following the June 24 disaster. Authorities reported that about 6,500 people have been rescued so far.
The back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes caused widespread destruction across the country, damaging more than 850 buildings and severely disrupting operations at Maiquetia International Airport, Venezuela’s main international air hub. Officials said 190 buildings collapsed, while an opposition-backed estimate suggests more than 30,000 people remain unaccounted for.
During an inspection of the damaged airport on Monday, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said efforts were underway to restore commercial flights through a parallel runway “as soon as possible” under a planned operational restart schedule.
Rescue teams continue searching for survivors and victims in the hardest-hit areas, including La Guaira state, where residents have raised concerns over delays in rescue operations and fuel shortages hampering relief efforts.
During Independence Day events on Sunday, Rodriguez renewed calls for the United States to lift sanctions, arguing that Venezuela needs greater access to international financing to speed up reconstruction efforts.
