Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 6,438 as Building Assessments Continue
The death toll from the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 6,438, according to the latest figures released by the Venezuelan government.
The new toll represents an increase of 137 deaths from the previous week, underscoring the continuing human cost of the disaster as authorities press ahead with rescue, recovery and damage-assessment efforts.
The earthquakes, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude and struck just 39 seconds apart, caused extensive destruction across parts of northern Venezuela, with La Guaira and the greater Caracas area among the worst-affected locations.
The initial disaster killed 164 people and injured 971, according to early reports from Venezuelan authorities, but the toll rose sharply as search-and-rescue and identification operations continued.
The latest update also highlights the scale of the damage to buildings. Authorities have inspected 59,109 structures to determine whether they remain safe for occupation, with 34,680 declared habitable.
The building assessments form part of a wider effort to determine the extent of structural damage and identify properties requiring repairs, restricted access or demolition before displaced residents can safely return.
The disaster has also left thousands of people without homes and placed significant pressure on the country’s emergency and reconstruction systems. Reuters reported earlier in August that the death toll had already exceeded 6,000, while debris-clearing efforts remained far from complete.
The scale of the destruction has prompted concerns over Venezuela’s capacity to finance and manage reconstruction. A World Bank assessment estimated that the earthquakes caused about $19.6 billion in direct physical damage, making the disaster the country’s deadliest earthquake catastrophe since 1812.
As authorities continue inspecting damaged structures and assisting affected communities, the rising death toll and extensive destruction underscore the long road ahead for Venezuela’s recovery.
