The official death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela in June has increased to 6,125, according to new figures released on Monday by senior lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez, as rescue and recovery operations continue across the country.
The latest update represents an increase from the previously announced 5,546 fatalities and underscores the scale of the humanitarian crisis triggered by the powerful earthquakes, which struck on June 24 with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
Data published by Rodríguez on his Telegram channel showed that nearly 61,000 injured people have received treatment in hospitals since the disaster, according to DW.
The report also indicated that authorities have removed approximately 16.5% of the debris generated by the earthquakes.
Despite the official figures, thousands of people remain unaccounted for. Unofficial estimates suggest that between 17,000 and 29,500 individuals are still missing weeks after the disaster.
The earthquakes caused widespread destruction, with almost 200 buildings collapsing, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira, the area hardest hit by the twin tremors.
Authorities have also declared more than 16,200 buildings unsafe for occupation, forcing thousands of residents to abandon their homes.
Many survivors are now living in temporary shelters across La Guaira and the capital, Caracas.
According to Rodríguez, cleanup efforts have so far removed nearly 350,000 tonnes of rubble, representing about 16.5% of the estimated 2.1 million tonnes of debris calculated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In response to the growing displacement crisis, Venezuela’s lawmakers on Friday unanimously approved legislation designed to simplify property rentals for earthquake victims.
The new measure repeals anti-rental laws introduced under previous leftist administrations and is intended to ease access to housing for displaced families.
Meanwhile, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has continued to defend her administration’s handling of the disaster following widespread criticism that emergency responders, including military personnel and government officials, arrived late at affected communities and failed to provide timely assistance to victims trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Rodríguez assumed office after the removal of former President Nicolás Maduro in January, following his reported detention by U.S. forces and transfer to New York, where he is currently facing trial.
Her government has repeatedly rejected accusations that authorities were slow to respond to one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.