The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June has risen to 6,125, while more than 61,000 people have received medical treatment for injuries, the country’s National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said on Monday.
Rodríguez released the updated casualty figures in a post on Telegram, providing the latest official assessment of one of Venezuela’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
The announcement comes amid mounting public criticism of the disaster response led by the interim government headed by Delcy Rodríguez, with survivors and relatives of missing victims accusing authorities of failing to act swiftly during the critical early stages of rescue operations.
Many residents have claimed that delays by government agencies and the military hindered search-and-rescue efforts, leaving victims trapped beneath collapsed buildings without timely emergency assistance.
On June 24, Venezuela was struck by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. The coastal state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas, suffered the heaviest damage, with thousands of buildings collapsing or sustaining severe structural damage. Roads, public infrastructure and essential services were also heavily affected, leaving thousands of people homeless.
The government said approximately 16.5 percent of the earthquake debris has so far been cleared, although questions remain over the pace of recovery and reconstruction.
Disaster experts have warned that rebuilding the worst-hit communities could take years, given the scale of the destruction.
Meanwhile, the World Bank estimated that the earthquakes caused nearly $20 billion in damage to Venezuela’s physical infrastructure.
Although several countries have pledged assistance following the disaster, it remains unclear when and how the promised financial aid will be delivered.
The reconstruction effort has been further complicated by Venezuela’s political transition after former President Nicolás Maduro was removed from office in a military operation in January, as well as by the continued impact of some U.S. economic sanctions, analysts say.
Human rights organizations and members of the international community have called for the remaining sanctions to be eased or lifted to facilitate the rapid delivery of humanitarian assistance and international reconstruction funding.
Source: Al Jazeera