Death Toll Rises to 3,535 in Venezuela's Double Earthquake Disaster

The death toll from the devastating double earthquake that struck Venezuela has reached 3,535. According to the latest data announced by officials, an increase of 193 fatalities was recorded as more bodies were recovered from the disaster zone. In addition, approximately 16,740 injured survivors from the earthquake continue to receive treatment in hospitals and field medical centers. The disaster, which occurred on 24 Haziran, caused widespread destruction across the country and left thousands of families homeless. While search and rescue operations in the region continue meticulously, the Venezuela government has also had to accelerate steps towards normalization.

Following twelve days since the disaster, the process of returning to education and work life has been initiated in 18 states in Venezuela. Although life in other parts of the country is trying to return to normal, this process has been largely suspended in the areas most affected by the earthquake. It was reported that schools in some municipalities of Miranda, La Guaira, Falcón, Carabobo, and Aragua states, along with the capital Caracas, have been decided to remain closed. This situation reveals that the devastating effects of the earthquake continue nationwide and that the recovery process will not be easy. While the safety of students and workers is considered a priority, infrastructure problems in the disaster zones also await solutions.

In La Guaira state, the epicenter of the earthquake, dramatic scenes continue to unfold. Local people are forming long queues in front of distribution centers to meet their basic needs. While the procurement of food, beverages, and medicine is carried out simultaneously with debris removal efforts, the closure of most businesses negatively affects the regional economy. Citizens were seen being distributed basic food items such as rice, canned tuna, and water at local distribution centers. Meanwhile, the USA city of Miami established a relief collection center at the LoanDepot Park stadium to support the earthquake victims in Venezuela and began sending humanitarian aid to the region.

As the scale of the crisis grows, the Venezuela government has requested support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to official statements, 17,345 people lost their homes across the country, and 79 temporary tent camps were set up to shelter them. It was announced that a total of 856 buildings were damaged, and 190 buildings completely collapsed. The Spain Government also set up a field hospital in the Doğu Parkı of Caracas to provide health support to the region. Experts, including psychiatrists and psychologists, arrived in the area to heal not only physical wounds but also the deep psychological trauma created by the earthquake.

The international community has mobilized to provide emergency support to Venezuela, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made important statements regarding the situation. Within the scope of global humanitarian aid campaigns, 274 million dollars have been raised so far, while the private sector has contributed 32 million dollars to this process. The United Nations' Venezuela response plan set a funding target of 632 million dollars, considering that 5.5 million people are affected by this crisis. In various cities of the country, especially in the capital Caracas and Maracaibo, hundreds of citizens organized memorial ceremonies and candle-lighting events for those who lost their lives in the earthquake. While these events demonstrate that the pain of the affected people is shared and solidarity is growing, they also indicate that the country faces a long and difficult recovery process.