Venezuela is counting the cost of catastrophe after a pair of powerful earthquakes tore through the country’s coast, with officials now saying the death toll has climbed beyond 4,300.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez – the brother of interim leader Delcy Rodriguez – reported 4,333 deaths, an increase from 4,118 yesterday.
The the back-to-back earthquakes struck on 24 June, smashing entire districts in the coastal state of La Guaira into ruins.
Thousands more are listed as missing.
With neighbourhoods reduced to debris and homes wiped away, makeshift camps for displaced families have appeared in stadiums, plazas and even along sidewalks.
More than 19,000 people are currently living in those camps, Mr Rodriguez said.
Venezuelan and foreign volunteers are treating the injured in medical tents erected in open spaces, while others move through the camps distributing food.
Aerial view shows destroyed buildings in Caraballeda, La Guaira state
The stronger 7.5 magnitude quake – described as the biggest in Venezuela in over a century – hit just 39 seconds after an initial 7.2 magnitude jolt, collapsing high-rise apartment blocks and leaving them piled into layers of rubble.
Rescue teams have now ended their search for survivors, but relatives are still combing through the wreckage for loved ones, hoping at least to recover remains and offer a dignified burial.
A 3.0 magnitude tremor in central Caracas yesterday triggered brief panic and prompted evacuations as people rushed out of buildings.
Venezuela faces a daunting recovery, particularly in a country where state services have been severely degraded by a prolonged economic crisis.
The United Nations on Wednesday issued an urgent appeal for nearly $300 million (€262 million) towards earthquake relief operations.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez has urged that frozen assets held abroad be released to help fund the rebuilding effort.
On Wednesday, she said she asked Britain’s King Charles to release about 30 tonnes of Venezuelan gold frozen under UK sanctions.
