The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has climbed to 3,535, with more than 16,700 people injured, according to updated official figures released on Monday.
The powerful back-to-back earthquakes, which struck on June 24, caused widespread destruction across La Guaira State, north of the capital, Caracas, flattening entire communities and leaving thousands of families displaced.
Government authorities said 16,740 people sustained injuries, while over 17,000 residents have been left homeless as rescue and relief efforts continue.
Although officials have yet to provide an official figure for those still missing, the United Nations estimates that up to 50,000 people may remain unaccounted for, raising concerns that the death toll could increase further.
Many survivors are currently sheltering in temporary camps set up in streets, public parks, and parking lots after losing their homes in the disaster.
As emergency operations transition from search-and-rescue to recovery, international rescue teams have begun withdrawing from the country, while families continue searching through the rubble in hopes of recovering the remains of their loved ones.
Authorities on Sunday commenced the burial of dozens of unidentified victims in a mass grave at La Esperanza Cemetery in La Guaira. Rows of simple white crosses, each bearing the date June 24, 2026, now stand as solemn reminders of one of Venezuela’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
