The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela two weeks ago has climbed to 3,889, according to the latest official figures released by the government.
A report published on Thursday by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, which hit on June 24, also left nearly 17,000 people injured, while close to 18,000 residents were displaced after losing their homes.
The latest casualty figure represents an increase from the 3,811 deaths reported a day earlier.
As the country struggles with the scale of the disaster, interim leader Delcy Rodríguez has appealed for the release of Venezuelan funds frozen overseas to support relief and reconstruction efforts.
The United Nations has also launched an appeal for about $300 million to fund emergency recovery operations, while the Venezuelan government is holding talks with the International Monetary Fund over access to financial assets, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack said.
The coastal state of La Guaira, one of the worst-hit areas, suffered widespread destruction, with more than 800 buildings damaged and 190 completely reduced to rubble.
Although rescue teams have largely ended the search for survivors, many families continue searching for missing loved ones.
One of them, Ciro Ocando, believes he has located the spot where his two teenage sons, aged 13 and 18, remain buried beneath collapsed buildings in Playa Grande, La Guaira.
Armed with only basic tools, Ocando continues digging through the debris in the hope of recovering their bodies.
“I’m in the right place, but there are a lot of obstacles,” he told AFP.
The disaster ranks among the deadliest natural catastrophes to hit Venezuela in recent decades, with recovery efforts expected to continue for months.
