Weeks after a pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, the nation is grappling with a rising death toll that has now surpassed 6,000. The seismic events, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused extensive damage to both property and infrastructure, triggering national emergencies that remain ongoing.
Unofficial estimates suggest that between 17,000 and 29,500 people remain unaccounted for in the wake of the disaster. The coastal state of La Guaira suffered the most severe impact, with nearly 200 buildings collapsing across the region. Authorities have officially classified more than 16,200 structures as unsafe, forcing a large number of residents to abandon their homes. Many displaced individuals are currently residing in makeshift shelters located in both La Guaira and Caracas.
Clean-up operations are currently underway, with crews having removed approximately 350,000 tons of debris to date. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this represents roughly 16.5% of the total 2.1 million tons of wreckage estimated to be generated by the quakes.
In a legislative response to the crisis, lawmakers unanimously approved a new law on Friday designed to simplify property rentals, aiming to assist displaced victims. This measure effectively repeals previous anti-rental legislation enacted by former leftist administrations.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed power following the January kidnapping of her predecessor Nicolas Maduro by US forces, has defended the government's response. Her administration has faced significant criticism from observers claiming that officials failed to provide adequate assistance to victims, including those trapped under rubble.
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