Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs to 5,398 as recovery enters rebuilding phase

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has climbed to 5,398, officials said on Wednesday, as rescue operations gradually transition into long-term relief and reconstruction efforts.

The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, devastated large parts of the country, with the coastal state of La Guaira suffering the worst destruction as hundreds of buildings collapsed.

Casualties and missing

Legislative chief Jorge Rodriguez said the death toll increased by 52 over the previous day, while the number of injured remained unchanged at 16,740.

Authorities have not released an official figure for those still missing, though national and international organisations estimate that thousands remain unaccounted for.

Search teams continue looking for victims trapped beneath the rubble, but relief efforts have increasingly shifted toward humanitarian assistance and rebuilding communities.

Reconstruction underway

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has pledged to build 4,000 homes by the end of this year for families displaced by the disaster, including an estimated 23,000 people left homeless. The government also aims to deliver 10,000 homes by 2027.

To support reconstruction, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released around $346 million from Venezuela’s reserves. The National Assembly has also approved legislative reforms aimed at speeding up post-earthquake housing projects.

Officials said 1,405 aftershocks have been recorded in the month since the devastating earthquakes, complicating recovery efforts.