Tragedy in Venezuela deepens, earthquake death toll exceeds 5,200

At least 5,208 people have lost their lives as a result of the devastating earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24, according to the latest figures released on Sunday by Jorge Rodriguez, head of the National Assembly.

The updated figures mark a further worsening of the tragic toll, compared to a day earlier when authorities had confirmed 5,119 deaths. However, the number of injured remains at 16,740.

According to official sources, around 100 new victims have been added in the last 24 hours, more than three weeks after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors, which caused massive destruction, especially in the northern part of the country.

The coastal state of La Guaira, located near the capital Caracas, continues to be the epicenter of the damage. There, rescue teams are continuing search operations nonstop amid the ruins of collapsed buildings.

While authorities have not yet given an official figure for the missing, the United Nations had estimated a day after the disaster that the number of people whose fate is unknown could be as high as 50,000, while other sources put this estimate at around 10,000.

The humanitarian consequences remain equally dramatic. More than 21,000 citizens are sheltering in over 100 makeshift camps. According to official statistics, the earthquakes damaged 856 structures, while 190 others have completely collapsed.