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The death toll from the devastating double earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 5,398, according to the latest official figures released on Wednesday.
The earthquakes, which struck on June 24 with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira, where hundreds of buildings collapsed.
Legislative chief Jorge Rodriguez said the latest toll represents an increase of 52 deaths from the previous day. The number of injured remained unchanged at 16,740.
Authorities have not released an official figure for those still missing, although national and international organisations estimate that thousands of people remain unaccounted for.
Search efforts continue in affected communities, though emergency operations have gradually shifted towards humanitarian relief and reconstruction one month after the disaster.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has pledged to provide 4,000 homes for displaced families before the end of the year and increase the total to 10,000 by 2027. Officials estimate that about 23,000 people were left homeless by the earthquakes.
The International Monetary Fund has released about $346 million to support reconstruction, while Venezuela’s National Assembly has approved measures to accelerate housing development.
Authorities have also recorded 1,405 aftershocks since the disaster.
