The Daily Journal.— The Venezuelan government raised the official death toll from the June 24 earthquakes to 2,295 on Wednesday. Officials also reported 11,267 people injured and 12,841 people officially registered as displaced by the disaster.
Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, presented the updated figures exactly one week after the disaster struck. He said emergency crews have rescued a total of 6,461 people alive from beneath the rubble through continuous search-and-rescue operations.
Aftershocks decrease, but the risk remains
Rodríguez reported that authorities have recorded 782 aftershocks across the country since the June 24 earthquakes.
He explained that the pattern of secondary tremors shows a gradual decline in both frequency and intensity. However, he warned that the danger has not disappeared completely and urged the public to remain alert.
Shelters and relocation for displaced families
Authorities reported that 25 temporary shelters are currently housing displaced residents. Officials have distributed them among 13 facilities in La Guaira, 8 in the Capital District (Caracas), 2 in Miranda, 1 in Carabobo, and 1 in Yaracuy.
On the healthcare front, Rodríguez said hospitals and emergency triage centers have treated 17,026 patients since the tragedy began. Among them, 4,565 required hospitalization, while 13,942 have already recovered and returned home.
Water, electricity, and communications
Regarding direct food assistance for affected communities, the National Assembly president said the national government has distributed a total of 8,893,000 kilograms of food and 27,714 food packages.
Authorities also announced a housing contingency plan through the Patria System for affected healthcare workers, police officers, military personnel, and rescuers. Officials will immediately relocate them to hotels in Caracas while they determine permanent housing solutions.
More than 4,000 international rescuers join the effort
Rodríguez highlighted the deployment of 4,099 international rescue personnel in the disaster zone, supported by 153 search dogs and 49 specialized urban search-and-rescue vehicles.
So far, Venezuela has received 707,063 tons of international humanitarian aid. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez formally thanked the international community for that assistance. In addition, 26,000 Venezuelan personnel continue working in the disaster areas alongside 17,832 volunteers who support logistics, humanitarian assistance, and rescue operations.
