Lead

Venezuela's June 24 earthquake has resulted in a death toll exceeding 1,700, with 5,034 people injured, according to figures released by National Assembly Chairman Jorge Rodriguez, as reported by TASS. Rodriguez, who serves as speaker of the republic's parliament, posted the numbers on his Telegram channel, stating that 1,719 people were killed. The earthquake struck on the evening of June 24, with two tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude occurring about 40 seconds apart, their epicenters located 10 kilometers apart in Venezuela's Yaracuy state.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the disaster has shown significant variation in casualty figures as authorities have released updated counts. In a report dated June 26, TASS cited the EFE news agency, which in turn cited parliament member Jorge Rodriguez, putting the death toll at 920, with more than 3,300 injured. Earlier reports had placed fatalities at 589 with nearly 3,000 injured.

By June 28, a TASS report quoted Globovision journalist Juan Barreto, who said official bulletins put the death toll at 1,430 but were "constantly being updated." Barreto predicted the final death toll could be in the tens of thousands, describing "an awful picture of collapsed high-rise buildings" in the coastal state of La Guaira, approximately 30 kilometers from Caracas, which he identified as the hardest-hit area.

A June 30 TASS report, again citing Rodriguez, put the death toll at 1,719 with 5,034 injured. The following day, July 1, TASS reported that Rodriguez, speaking on Venezolana de Television, said the death toll had reached 2,295, exceeding 2,000.

The differing figures reflect the ongoing nature of the disaster response and the challenges of counting casualties in the aftermath of a major earthquake. The earthquake was followed by 214 aftershocks, as noted in both the June 26 and June 28 reports.

Key Claims

  • The earthquake struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24, with two tremors measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude occurring about 40 seconds apart, their epicenters located 10 kilometers apart in Yaracuy state, as reported by TASS.
  • National Assembly Chairman Jorge Rodriguez reported a death toll exceeding 1,700 (1,719) and 5,034 injured, according to a TASS report dated June 30.
  • Rodriguez later reported the death toll exceeded 2,000, reaching 2,295, according to a TASS report dated July 1.
  • A TASS report dated June 26, citing the EFE news agency and Rodriguez, put the death toll at 920 with more than 3,300 injured.
  • In a June 28 TASS report, Globovision journalist Juan Barreto said official bulletins placed the death toll at 1,430 but that it could ultimately be in the tens of thousands, citing the scale of destruction in La Guaira.
  • The June 28 report also noted that foreign rescue teams had joined the rescue and recovery effort.
  • The earthquake was followed by 214 aftershocks, as stated in TASS reports from June 26 and June 28.