Death toll in Venezuela earthquakes rises to 2,645, 15,000 people left homeless

In Venezuela, the wreckage caused by the earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, which occurred on 24 June and consisted of two major tremors, continues to reveal the victims underneath. Intense search and rescue efforts initiated following the severe tremors felt across the country are being carried out vigorously with the participation of international teams from various parts of the world. In recent statements by officials, it was noted that the disaster's toll has worsened and the number of lives lost has reached frightening dimensions, emphasizing the importance of the international community's support.

Venezuela National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, in his latest assessment to the public, updated the definitive toll of the disaster, officially announcing that the number of fatalities has risen to 2,645 and the number of injured to 12,666. Despite the deepening humanitarian crisis caused by this natural disaster, the light of hope has not been completely extinguished; it was reported that the number of people rescued alive from the rubble and who held on to life reached 6,462. However, on the other hand, it was determined that the number of victims who lost their shelters and became homeless due to the earthquake is approximately 15,050.

The extent of the physical damage caused by the earthquake is also beginning to become clear in detail; according to the work of expert inspection teams on the ground, the number of structures directly affected by the tremors reached 885 buildings. Among the structures for which damage assessment work was completed, it was determined that 189 buildings were damaged to an unusable degree and collapsed completely. In the remaining buildings, there are light and moderate levels of damage that engineers need to examine in detail, which creates concern regarding the safety of the building stock in the region.

The damage assessment work has not been limited to the collapsed buildings but has been expanded to cover the damage emerging in infrastructure and living spaces. Officials emphasize that there is a long way to go for life to return to normal in the heavily damaged regions and that measures to evacuate structures at risk of collapse are continuing. The grief and pain felt throughout the country have led to civil society organizations and the state conducting aid work in a coordinated manner to meet the basic needs of earthquake victims, such as shelter and health.

In the regions where the disaster occurred, the first phase of search and rescue operations is largely complete, and currently, processes such as the distribution of humanitarian aid and the removal of rubble are coming to the fore. The data provided by the Venezuela National Assembly President reveals that the disaster not only caused loss of life but also created a major housing crisis and highlights the urgent need for temporary shelter for thousands of citizens. Although it will take years to compensate for the economic and social effects of the earthquake, the current priority is to heal the wounds and transport the victims to safe conditions.