Venezuela double earthquake death toll reaches 5,208 as rubble clearing and animal rescue efforts intensify

Death toll continues to rise

Nearly a month after the 24 June double earthquake, the official death toll has reached 5,208, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced on Sunday. The figure rose by 89 in the previous 24 hours, up from 5,119 reported on Saturday and 4,930 on Friday. The number of injured remains stable at 16,740. The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, devastated the coastal state of La Guaira near Caracas, with 856 buildings affected and 190 completely collapsed, according to the latest government report.

Rescue and displacement

Rescue teams have pulled 6,462 people alive from the rubble. A total of 128,324 families have received assistance, and 21,235 families are being housed in 107 temporary camps set up by the government. The United Nations estimates that 1.3 million people will require emergency aid over the next six months, while UNICEF reports that 650,000 people, including 230,000 children, have been affected. The official missing count remains unstated, though the UN initially projected up to 50,000 missing, with some estimates closer to 10,000.

As long as I have life and health, I will not give up until I find my family.

Rubble clearing and recycling

With the rescue phase winding down, attention has turned to clearing debris. Volunteers and paid searchers, hired by wealthy families to recover bodies, now comb through the ruins. Alejandro Álvarez of the NGO Clima21 noted that people with greater purchasing power are paying for the recovery of relatives' remains. Authorities have identified 282 collapsed floors as the epicenter of destruction. Rubble is being transported to temporary reception centers on impermeable ground away from the sea, where it is sorted, crushed, and recycled. Joaquín Benítez, an environmental safety expert at the University of Caracas, said the crushed material can be used for urban furniture. Nepal's 2015 earthquake recovery, which recycled 90% of its rubble with UN assistance, is cited as a model.

What is crushed serves as a base for urban furniture.

Animal rescue effort

Hundreds of pets have been pulled from the debris. In La Guaira, volunteers with government support have established an emergency animal shelter. Maguilda Vargas, a veterinary assistant leading the project, said most rescued animals suffer from fractures, multiple traumas, abrasions, or cuts. Her team has so far reunited 18 pets with their owners. Many people have created online profiles with photos of missing pets, sharing posts repeatedly across social media in desperate attempts to find them. Independent shelters are also working to reconnect earthquake victims with their animals.

Most of the animals found are injured and have bone fractures, multiple traumas, abrasions or cuts.

International aid and health emergency

On Friday, the International Monetary Fund released $346 million from Venezuela's own reserves at the fund for urgent humanitarian needs. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the disbursement, and President Delcy Rodríguez said the money would finance reconstruction and support affected families. Health organizations warn that the health emergency is far from over, with hundreds of thousands of victims still lacking income and basic services.