Venezuela quake death toll at 3,811, UN seeks $296M aid

Two weeks after devastating twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, the nation is shifting from emergency rescue operations to a monumental recovery effort, even as tens of thousands of families remain without answers about missing loved ones. Government officials announced on Wednesday, July 8, that the official death toll has risen to 3,811, with 16,740 people injured. The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit north-central Venezuela just 39 seconds apart on June 24, collapsing 190 buildings and significantly damaging 856 others.

Authorities reported that 17,907 people are homeless and nearly 86,800 families have received government assistance. While 6,462 people were rescued alive, the focus is now on humanitarian aid and assessing the staggering scale of destruction. A preliminary assessment for the United Nations estimates the quakes caused approximately $37 billion in direct physical damage to buildings and infrastructure.

One of the most painful lingering uncertainties is the fate of those still unaccounted for. Independent online registries and humanitarian organizations estimate between 43,000 and 51,000 people are missing. Officials and aid agencies clarify...