Nearly 5,000 Dead in Venezuela After Devastating June Earthquakes

Venezuela's death toll from two powerful earthquakes on June 24 has risen to 4,734, with thousands more injured and many still missing under rubble, authorities in Caracas reported on Tuesday. The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude and occurring just 39 seconds apart, struck mainly Caracas and the neighboring La Guaira state, where stadiums and public spaces have been converted into refugee camps. Officially, 16,740 people have been injured, and estimates suggest the final death toll could reach between 10,000 and 50,000, marking one of the worst natural disasters globally in the past decade.

Nearly 21,000 Venezuelans remain homeless, living in temporary shelters. Residents continue searching for missing relatives amid the destruction. One such searcher, Daniel Gonzalez, has personally recovered 12 bodies, including that of his cousin Felix Estudio, who was trapped when a residential building collapsed in La Guaira. Gonzalez, lacking technical training, avoided heavy machinery to preserve the remains and expressed his determination to provide proper burials for the victims.

Humanitarian aid continues to flow into Venezuela, with organizations like Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) coordinating relief efforts from abroad. Thousands of volunteers in Doral, Florida, many of Venezuelan descent, are sorting and shipping carefully selected supplies to Caracas daily, supported by the U.S. State Department. This assistance marks a significant shift in U.S.-Venezuela relations since January, when the U.S. intensified pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's regime. Previously, Maduro had blocked humanitarian aid, equating it with foreign intervention.

The ongoing relief efforts highlight the scale of the disaster and the urgent need for support as Venezuela grapples with the aftermath of the earthquakes. Survivors and aid workers alike emphasize the importance of continued assistance and the hope for closure for families still searching for loved ones beneath the rubble.