Two Venezuela quakes kill 6,438, thousands still in camps
The death toll rose by 137 from last week, while only 335 homes have been handed over of 4,000 promised.
The Venezuelan government updated the death toll from two quakes that struck the country’s coast on June 24 to 6,438. The official figure, announced on Aug. 17, is up 137 from the previous week’s report. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes brought down at least 190 buildings and affected about 60,000 homes, 24,000 of them no longer fit for habitation. Nearly two months after the disaster, victims’ families and rescue teams are still searching for missing people in the rubble. Thousands of residents remain in temporary camps in vulnerable conditions; heavy rain in Caracas last weekend damaged part of the shelter tents. Authorities said 335 homes have been handed over to affected families, far below the target of 4,000 units by the end of 2026.