Venezuela quake death toll climbs to 6,125

More than a month after devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, the confirmed death toll has risen to 6,125, officials announced on Monday, August 3. The updated figure represents an increase of 579 fatalities since the last official update on July 24. The twin earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck on June 24, causing widespread destruction, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez provided the latest casualty figures, stating that nearly 61,000 people have received medical treatment since the disaster. Rescue operations and debris removal continue, with officials reporting that 16.5 percent of the rubble has been cleared so far. The physical damage from the quakes has been estimated by a World Bank report at nearly $20 billion.

The scale of the destruction is extensive. Authorities reported that nearly 200 buildings collapsed completely, and over 16,200 other structures have been declared unsafe. This damage has displaced thousands of residents, with nearly 24,000 people currently living in temporary shelters in La Guaira and Caracas. The government has not released an official count of...