Venezuela’s death toll from the devastating June 24 double earthquakes surged to 6,125, according to a new official report published Monday by National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez, representing a jump of 579 victims from the previous count frozen since July 24.
The earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Venezuela’s northern coast just 39 seconds apart, making them one of the most destructive seismic events in the region’s recent history. The latest bulletin, titled “Weekly Informative Bulletin – Reconstruction Stage,” also reported that 60,992 people have been treated in hospitals and 6,462 were rescued from rubble.
Of 43,679 homes evaluated, the government classified 25,325 as habitable, 9,866 as restricted, and 6,433 as high risk. Authorities have removed 346,755 tons of debris, equivalent to 16.51 percent of the total generated by the disaster, but only 287 homes have been delivered to affected families.
The most controversial figure remains the number of missing persons. The government has kept its official count frozen at just 157 since June 25, a number civil organizations say is far below reality. La Guaira Governor Jose Alejandro Teran acknowledged nearly 1,400 missing persons in his jurisdiction alone, while the citizen platform “Desaparecidos Terremoto Venezuela” reports thousands more.
The World Bank estimated direct physical damage at $19.6 billion, with 47 percent in residential housing, 27 percent in infrastructure, and 26 percent in non-residential buildings. The institution warned that slow reconstruction could hinder Venezuela’s economic recovery over the next decade.
NGO Provea demanded that the government update both its deceased and missing persons counts, warning there is “no public record to support” official data. Tens of thousands remain in makeshift shelters in stadiums and plazas, struggling to access drinking water and basic services amid a crisis compounded by deteriorating infrastructure and widespread poverty.
In a parallel political development, the Venezuelan government and a segment of the opposition began a U.S.-brokered dialogue process on August 1, committing to address the needs of earthquake victims as well as issues related to democracy and political guarantees.
Sources: CiberCuba, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera
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