Death toll from earthquakes in Venezuela rises, Caracas seeks release of gold in Britain

The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have left 3,811 victims, while the economic losses from this natural disaster are estimated at $6.7 billion.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the country is trying to secure the release of gold reserves held in Britain, with the aim of using those funds for reconstruction.

The seismic tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, hit the country just 39 seconds apart, causing heavy damage especially in northern Venezuela and in La Huira state.

The latest data show that, in addition to the dead, 16,740 people were injured and 17,907 people were left homeless. Around 6,462 people have also been rescued, while aid has been provided to more than 86,000 affected families.

The updated toll was announced by the speaker of Venezuela’s parliament, Jorge Rodriguez, who said the number of victims had been revised from 3,685 to 3,811.

To secure financial resources for the reconstruction phase, Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has sent a request to King Charles III for the release of around 30 tons of gold deposited at the Bank of England.

She said the gold belongs to the Venezuelan people and should be used to address the consequences of the earthquakes. The request follows Caracas’ earlier efforts to gain control over financial reserves abroad, which remain blocked because of political disputes and international sanctions.

The United Nations has estimated that the damage caused by the earthquakes amounts to $6.7 billion, or approximately 6% of Venezuela’s Gross Domestic Product.

The economic difficulties that have hit the country in recent years are expected to further complicate reconstruction, while the authorities have called for international aid and the unfreezing of frozen funds to manage the consequences of the disaster.