The death toll from Venezuela’s catastrophic twin earthquakes has climbed to 2,954, as emergency officials continue to assess the scale of one of Latin America’s deadliest natural disasters in recent years.
Authorities on Saturday confirmed that fatalities had increased by more than 300 since Friday, while more than 16,000 people have been injured in the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.
The twin quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, flattened entire neighborhoods, destroyed critical infrastructure and left thousands of families searching for missing loved ones.
Government officials said over 16,000 residents have been displaced, with at least 190 buildings collapsing, the majority in the heavily affected coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital, Caracas.
Thousands of people remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could continue to rise as search teams clear the remaining rubble.
The widespread destruction has overwhelmed emergency services and forced thousands of survivors into temporary shelters.
Ten days after the devastating earthquakes struck, rescue crews are gradually scaling back efforts to find survivors and shifting their focus to recovery operations.
Emergency experts note that the highest chance of locating survivors typically exists within the first 72 hours after a major earthquake. Despite the odds, rescuers have managed to pull a handful of survivors from collapsed buildings in recent days, offering brief moments of hope amid the devastation.
Recovery teams are now working alongside grieving families to retrieve victims trapped beneath the debris.
The disaster has triggered a worsening humanitarian crisis across affected communities, with thousands lacking access to adequate shelter, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and medical care.
Aid agencies continue to deliver emergency relief as authorities coordinate efforts to support displaced families and restore essential services.
The twin earthquakes now rank among Venezuela’s most destructive natural disasters in decades, leaving behind widespread devastation, mounting casualties and a massive rebuilding challenge.
Officials are expected to release further updates as recovery operations continue and additional victims are identified.
