Death toll from Venezuela earthquake rises to 6,438

Twin earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela near the coast on June 24, resulting in a death toll of 6,438, according to the most recent official count released on Monday. Nearly two months after the disaster, relatives and rescuers continue to search for the missing amidst the rubble. The death toll, announced by parliament speaker Jorge Rodriguez, surpasses the previous figure of 6,301 reported the previous week.

The quakes caused the collapse of at least 190 buildings, while authorities claim that a minimum of 60,000 homes were impacted in some capacity. Of these, 24,000 are deemed uninhabitable. Thousands of Venezuelan residents continue to reside in temporary camps, where living conditions remain precarious. Heavy rain in Caracas this weekend exacerbated the situation by destroying some of the tents housing the victims.

The interim president Delcy Rodriguez's government has pledged to provide housing for those affected, with 335 homes made available thus far out of the 4,000 promised by the end of the year.