The death toll from twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June has risen to 6,438, as relatives and rescue workers continue searching for missing people nearly two months after the disaster.
The latest figure was announced on Monday by parliamentary speaker Jorge Rodríguez, raising the previous official death toll of 6,301.
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck in quick succession on June 24, devastating parts of northern Venezuela. The epicentres were in Yaracuy state, west of Caracas, while La Guaira and the capital Caracas were among the areas badly affected.
At least 190 buildings collapsed, while hundreds of others were damaged. Earlier government assessments also put the number of affected homes in the tens of thousands, with thousands considered unsafe or uninhabitable.
The rising death toll has continued as authorities clear rubble and recover bodies from collapsed buildings.
Thousands of survivors remain in temporary shelters, where conditions have become increasingly difficult. Heavy rain in Caracas over the weekend damaged some tents housing earthquake victims, adding to the hardship facing displaced families.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s government has promised new housing for people who lost their homes in the disaster.
So far, 335 homes have reportedly been made available out of the 4,000 the government promised to provide by the end of the year.
The June earthquakes were among the deadliest disasters to hit Venezuela in decades. The World Bank has estimated that the quakes caused about $19.6 billion in direct physical damage, underlining the scale of the rebuilding challenge facing the country.
The disaster has also left thousands injured and displaced, while recovery efforts continue amid concerns over shelter, healthcare and living conditions for survivors. Earlier assessments put the number of people left homeless at nearly 18,000.
