The death toll from Venezuela’s twin earthquakes that struck the country on June 24 has now risen to 5,208, according to an updated official tally on Monday.
This number is expected to climb further in the coming days after the powerful back-to-back earthquakes most severely affected La Guaira, a coastal state near the capital Caracas.
The number of people injured in the aftermath of the earthquakes stands at around 18,000, with more than 20,000 internally displaced. In La Guaira, nearly 20,000 homeless people are crammed into makeshift camps set up in stadiums, public squares, and on sidewalks.
More than 850 buildings were damaged and 190 collapsed completely, according to official figures.
The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit the South American nation on June 24, triggering widespread destruction, particularly in urban and densely populated zones near Caracas.
Authorities report that over 128,324 families have received assistance through 107 temporary camps currently sheltering 20,857 people.
The United Nations has issued an emergency appeal for approximately $300 million to provide life-saving aid to around 1.3 million people in desperate need.
Venezuela and the United Nations have raised an urgent appeal stating that the country would need millions of tonnes of aid, including food and medicines, to assist people affected by the deadly quakes.
Also read: Venezuela death toll climbs to 5,208, with thousands still trapped
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