Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 5,069

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 5,069 after 139 additional fatalities were confirmed, Parliament leader Jorge Rodríguez said. The number of injured remained unchanged at 16,740.

According to an update shared on Rodríguez’s Telegram account, 17,907 people remain without homes following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes.

Authorities have assisted 128,324 affected families, while 21,235 people are staying in 107 temporary camps.

Since June 24, officials have recorded 1,331 aftershocks. The strongest occurred on July 10, when a magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck about 10 kilometers northeast of Naiguatá in La Guaira state, the area hardest hit by the twin earthquakes.

The aftershock triggered panic among residents and prompted precautionary evacuations from buildings.

The Venezuelan government announced last week that it had begun a biometric census to determine how many homes need to be built, estimating that about 25,000 housing units may be required.

On Tuesday, Venezuela’s Parliament approved a bill aimed at speeding up housing construction in the aftermath of the earthquakes.