Venezuela’s twin earthquake death toll rises to more than 5,000

CARACAS, July 19 (YPA) –The death toll in Venezuela has risen to 5,119 people following the twin earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.

The figure was announced by Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez in a post published on the US platform X on Saturday, providing an update on the disaster that struck the country.

Rodríguez said the number of fatalities had increased by 50, reaching 5,119 deaths, while the number of injured people reached 16,740.

The previous death toll announced by Venezuelan authorities on Friday evening stood at 5,069 fatalities.

On June 24, Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes, the first measuring 7.2 magnitude and the second 7.5 magnitude on the Richter scale.

The United Nations Development Programme announced on June 26 that the direct material damage from the disaster was estimated at around $6.7 billion.

Search and rescue operations are still ongoing in the country, amid concerns that the number of deaths and injuries may continue to rise.

@E.Y.M