Death toll from Venezuela quakes rises to 3,535 as thousands remain displaced

Lead

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 3,535, according to official figures released on Monday, as authorities began mass burials of unidentified victims. The quakes, which measured magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 and struck within seconds of each other, flattened entire neighborhoods in and around Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from multiple outlets present a range of figures, reflecting the evolving and often conflicting official counts. Al Jazeera reported that the death toll stood at 3,535, with more than 30,000 people still missing, and that mass burials had begun at La Esperanza Cemetery in La Guaira. Another Al Jazeera report, citing Venezuela's National Assembly, put the death toll higher at more than 2,295 killed and 11,000 injured, while noting that the United Nations had warned the toll could rise to 10,000.

Deutsche Welle, in a June 27 report, cited National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez as saying the death toll had risen to 1,430, a 55% increase from a previous count of 920, with 3,200 injured and 3,100 left homeless. France 24, in a separate report, said the death toll had topped 4,000, with at least 4,118 killed and 16,740 injured, according to parliament chief Jorge Rodriguez. The Guardian also reported the death toll topping 4,000, citing the government and Jorge Rodriguez's Telegram message.

Later reports, including from Al Jazeera, France 24, and the Jerusalem Post, converged on the figure of 3,535 deaths, with 16,740 injured and 17,854 left without housing, as reported by Jorge Rodriguez on Monday. The Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters, noted that the death toll had risen to 3,535, with nearly 18,000 homeless, and that at least 12,800 people were staying in 80 shelters across Caracas and La Guaira.

The discrepancies in the death toll figures reflect the chaotic aftermath and the difficulty of accounting for the dead and missing. While some reports, such as those from The Guardian and France 24, cite the higher figure of 4,118, others, including the most recent reports from Al Jazeera, France 24, and the Jerusalem Post, report the lower figure of 3,535. The United Nations has estimated that up to 6.76 million people could have been affected by the earthquakes, including up to two million residents of Caracas, as reported by France 24 and Deutsche Welle.

Key Claims

• The death toll from the twin earthquakes has risen to 3,535, as reported by Al Jazeera, France 24, and the Jerusalem Post, citing official figures released on Monday.
• At least 4,118 people were killed, according to reports from France 24 and The Guardian, citing Venezuelan parliament chief Jorge Rodriguez.
• More than 2,295 people have been killed and 11,000 injured, according to an Al Jazeera report citing Venezuela's National Assembly.
• The death toll had risen to 1,430, with 3,200 injured and 3,100 left homeless, as reported by Deutsche Welle on June 27, citing National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez.
• 16,740 people have been injured, a figure repeated in multiple reports from Al Jazeera, France 24, The Guardian, and the Jerusalem Post, all citing Jorge Rodriguez.
• 17,854 people have been left without housing, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post, citing Jorge Rodriguez.
• Up to 6.76 million people could have been affected by the earthquakes, including up to two million residents of Caracas, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration, as reported by France 24 and Deutsche Welle.
• Mass burials have begun at La Esperanza Cemetery in La Guaira, where unidentified victims are being laid to rest, as reported by Al Jazeera and France 24.
• Thousands of people remain missing, with the UN estimating that as many as 50,000 may still be unaccounted for, as reported by France 24.
• More than 60,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, according to Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

The Venezuelan government, represented by acting President Delcy Rodriguez and National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, has defended the emergency response. Delcy Rodriguez said security forces were deployed immediately after the quakes and announced the creation of a new military unit to tackle future emergencies, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. She also called for the release of frozen assets held abroad, including about 30 tons of Venezuelan gold held under UK sanctions, as reported by France 24 and The Guardian.

Experts and humanitarian organizations have warned of a widening health crisis. Eugenio Cova, head of the trauma unit at Hospital Jose Gregorio Hernandez, warned of infections among patients exposed to the disaster, as reported by Al Jazeera. Carolina Jimenez, president of the Washington Office on Latin America, told Al Jazeera that the result of slow government aid has been growing anger towards the state, noting that "the first responder should be the state."

The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for nearly $300 million towards earthquake relief operations, as reported by France 24 and The Guardian. The UN's International Organization for Migration has urged a bigger response from the international community, emphasizing that the country's needs are "immediate and significant," as reported by Deutsche Welle.