Double earthquake in Venezuela: the official death toll exceeds 6.000

The death toll from the double earthquake that struck Venezuela on June 24 continues to rise. The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, announced on Monday that 6.125 people have now been counted among the victims, compared to 5.546 in the previous official count.

The two earthquakes, measuring 7,2 and 7,5 on the Richter scale, primarily affected the country's coastline and the state of La Guaira, north of Caracas. Several weeks after the disaster, residents continue to search for missing loved ones amidst the collapsed buildings.

Nearly 1.400 missing persons recorded in La Guaira

The governor of La Guaira state, José Alejandro Terán, told local media that nearly 1.400 people were still missing. However, according to a diplomatic source and expert projections cited by AFP, their number could be as high as 10.000. This estimate, significantly higher than the figure released by local authorities, has not been officially confirmed.

Demolition and clearing operations are continuing in this coastal region, where the majority of victims and the most significant material damage are concentrated. The weakened buildings still pose a danger to residents and the teams working on the ground.

More than 1.000 buildings collapsed or damaged

According to Venezuelan authorities, 190 buildings collapsed completely during the earthquakes and 856 others were damaged. Several thousand more buildings are considered too dangerous to remain inhabited.

These damages have created significant needs in terms of structural expertise, securing, demolition, and reconstruction. Aftershocks since June 24th have also complicated building assessments and operations in the affected areas.

Nearly 24.000 people now live in camps set up in Caracas and the state of La Guaira. This situation increases the need for temporary shelter, drinking water, sanitation facilities, and permanent housing.

A law to put vacant housing back on the market

To address this crisis, the Venezuelan Parliament has passed a law aimed at increasing the supply of rental housing. The legislation ends regulations that the government considered discouraging for landlords and, according to interim president Delcy Rodríguez, is intended to foster "win-win" relationships between landlords and tenants.

“We estimate that around 400.000 homes could be affected by this law,” the leader stated. The government hopes this will allow it to quickly bring some of the currently vacant housing stock back onto the market in order to rehouse households that have lost their homes.

The government announces the delivery of 4.000 homes

Delcy Rodríguez also announced that some 4.000 homes should be completed by the end of the year. The government is also planning funding to facilitate homeownership for those affected by the earthquakes.

As part of the Venezuela Renace fund, authorities have also announced subsidies of up to 80% of the purchase price of a home for certain affected families. These measures are part of the reconstruction program launched after the most devastating earthquakes in the country's recent history.