The official death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 continues to climb. Venezuelan authorities announced on Wednesday that the number of fatalities has risen to 5,398, with an additional 190 deaths recorded since the last report.
The update was delivered by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, who noted that 52 new deaths have occurred in recent days.
On Sunday, July 19, the official count stood at 5,208 victims, marking this update as the latest in an ongoing crisis that has shown no signs of abating since the disaster struck.
Wednesday’s official report also highlights the humanitarian impact of the catastrophe: 16,740 injured, 6,462 people rescued, 17,907 homeless, and 23,335 individuals sheltered in 107 temporary camps. In total, 128,324 families have received aid.
In terms of infrastructure, 856 buildings have been damaged, with 190 completely collapsing. Emergency efforts have distributed nearly 11,000 tons of food and more than 44.5 million liters of water, while 44,298 patients have received medical care.
The response operation involves 2,278 international rescuers, 30,989 deployed personnel, and 31,745 volunteers. Since the initial quake, there have been 1,463 aftershocks.
The twin earthquakes—measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and occurring just 39 seconds apart—rocked northern Venezuela at 6:04 PM local time on June 24.
The epicenters were located along the San Sebastián fault system, spanning the San Felipe (Yaracuy) and Yumare/Morón (Carabobo) axis.
The coastal region of La Guaira state suffered the most severe destruction, with areas such as Caraballeda, Catia La Mar, Macuto, and Naiguatá experiencing massive building collapses.
The death toll has steadily increased since the first day: 164 fatalities were reported on June 25, over 1,900 on June 30, 3,342 on July 5, 4,490 on July 12, and 5,208 on July 19, culminating in 5,398 as of this Wednesday.
The disaster has also affected the Cuban community residing in Venezuela. At least 32 Cubans have been reported missing, mainly in La Guaira, with at least nine confirmed dead.
On Monday, a Cuban woman confirmed the deaths of her parents and other family members who remained trapped under the rubble of a building in Naiguatá since June 24.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned from the outset that the true number of victims could be significantly higher, with a 42% chance that the death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000.
The United Nations estimates up to 68,000 missing and more than 6.7 million affected, marking this as the deadliest natural disaster in modern Venezuelan history.
Key Information on the Venezuelan Earthquakes
What was the magnitude of the Venezuelan earthquakes?
The earthquakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale.
How many people were injured in the earthquakes?
A total of 16,740 people were reported injured.
How many buildings were affected by the earthquakes?
A total of 856 buildings were affected, with 190 collapsing completely.