Lead

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June has risen to 6,125, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Rodríguez said nearly 61,000 people had been treated in hospitals and that 16.5 percent of the debris generated by the quakes had been removed.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes struck on June 24, hitting within about 40 seconds of each other. Their epicenters were located about 10 kilometers apart in Yaracuy state, according to TASS. The quakes caused nearly 200 buildings to collapse, mostly in the worst-hit coastal state of La Guaira.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the death toll varies across sources. ABC Australia and Al Jazeera both reported the figure of 6,125, citing Rodríguez's announcement. Deutsche Welle also reported the 6,125 figure, noting that unofficial estimates put the number of people still unaccounted for at between 17,000 and 29,500. TASS, in two separate reports dated July 20 and July 22, gave lower figures: 5,208 and 5,346, respectively. The TASS reports, also attributed to Rodríguez, listed 16,740 injured and 190 buildings completely destroyed.

The discrepancies in the death toll likely reflect the timing of the reports. The ABC Australia and Al Jazeera articles were published after Rodríguez's Monday announcement, while the TASS reports were dated earlier in the week. The previous death toll was 5,546, according to Deutsche Welle.

Key claims

  • Death toll: Official figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez put the death toll at 6,125, as reported by ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, and Deutsche Welle. TASS reported lower figures of 5,208 and 5,346 in its two dispatches.
  • Hospital treatments: Nearly 61,000 people were treated in hospitals, according to ABC Australia and Al Jazeera. TASS reported that 39,935 or 39,567 people received medical treatment in its two reports, respectively.
  • Missing and unaccounted: ABC Australia reported that La Guaira Governor Jose Alejandro Teran said about 1,400 people remain missing. Deutsche Welle cited unofficial estimates of between 17,000 and 29,500 people still unaccounted for.
  • Debris removal: Rodríguez said 16.5 percent of debris had been removed, as reported by ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, and Deutsche Welle. Deutsche Welle added that this amounted to almost 350,000 tons of the 2.1 million tons estimated by the United Nations Development Programme.
  • Building damage: Nearly 200 buildings collapsed, mostly in La Guaira, as reported by ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle. TASS reported 190 buildings completely destroyed and 856 with severe damage. Authorities classified over 16,200 structures as unsafe, according to ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle.
  • Economic damage: The World Bank estimated $19.6 billion in direct physical damage, according to ABC Australia, which noted the rebuilding cost could be double that or more. Al Jazeera reported the estimate at nearly $20 billion.
  • Displaced and shelters: TASS reported 17,907 people were left homeless (in its July 20 report) and 17,265 (in its July 22 report). ABC Australia noted that almost 24,000 people in La Guaira and Caracas were living in makeshift shelters. Deutsche Welle said thousands were in shelters.
  • Government response: Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has defended the government's response amid criticism that military personnel and other officials arrived late and did little to help victims, as reported by ABC Australia and Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Venezuelan government

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has defended the government's response to the earthquakes, dismissing criticism that officials were slow to help victims. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez has been releasing daily updates on the death toll, injuries, and relief efforts.

Critics and advocates

Critics have accused the government and military of failing to do enough for quake victims, including those trapped in the rubble. Some advocates have called for US economic sanctions, imposed during former President Nicolás Maduro's tenure, to be loosened or canceled to facilitate recovery.