TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela has risen to 2,595, while more than 12,400 people have been injured, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said on Thursday, July 2.
Venezuela was hit by two strong earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude just 39 seconds apart on June 24, causing widespread destruction across the country's northern region.
"The number we give is a rigorous number," Rodríguez told a press conference, as quoted by Anadolu.
She said the updated figures followed a detailed verification process, with authorities cross-checking casualty data before releasing the latest toll.
"We don't want to give numbers that are not rigorously proven," Rodríguez said.
Rodríguez explained that five people who had initially been reported dead were later confirmed to be alive after authorities verified their identities using Venezuela's fingerprint-based subsidized fuel system.
International Aid and Recovery
The earthquakes have prompted an international humanitarian response, with thousands of foreign rescue workers and aid shipments arriving in Venezuela.
National Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodríguez said more than 4,000 international rescue personnel had been deployed to assist search and rescue operations.
"As of today, 4,099 international rescue workers remain in the disaster zone, working side by side with national forces in the search for survivors," Rodríguez said on Wednesday, as quoted by Antara.
He added that the international teams are working alongside 26,000 Venezuelan military personnel, police officers, firefighters, and emergency responders, supported by 17,832 volunteers.
According to Rodríguez, Venezuela has also received 7,063 tons of international humanitarian aid since the disaster.
Reconstruction Efforts
Delcy Rodríguez said the government is holding talks with the U.S. State Department and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to mobilize resources for rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the earthquakes.
She added that discussions are also underway with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, which have offered grants and credit facilities to support Venezuela's recovery.
According to the government, at least 855 buildings were damaged by the earthquakes. Authorities have allocated an initial US$200 million for reconstruction and opened a dedicated account at the CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean to receive international donations for housing projects.
Rodríguez also announced the arrival of a team of Israeli specialists to assess damaged buildings and support infrastructure recovery efforts.
Preliminary estimates based on the United Nations Development Programme's Rapid Digital Analysis (RADIDA) indicate that damage to homes, businesses, and other assets could total around US$6.7 billion.
Government estimates suggest about 12,800 people lost their homes, while the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has recorded around 16,000 people displaced by the earthquakes.
Rodríguez also said Brazilian Defense Minister José Múcio visited Venezuela earlier this week to discuss expanding humanitarian cooperation and reconstruction assistance.
Read: Venezuela Leader Rejects Criticism for Earthquake Response
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