Venezuela earthquake recovery continues as death toll tops 6,000
New government figures underline the scale of Venezuela’s long-term recovery, with hospitals and infrastructure still under pressure weeks after the disaster
Venezuela’s recovery from the twin earthquakes that struck the country in June remains underway, with official figures showing the death toll has risen to 6,125 as authorities continue rebuilding efforts across the worst-affected regions.
Figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez show that nearly 61,000 people have received hospital treatment since the disaster.
Authorities also said that only 16.5% of the debris generated by the earthquakes had so far been cleared, underlining the scale of the reconstruction effort still facing affected communities.
The latest update suggests the response has now moved firmly beyond the initial rescue phase into a prolonged recovery operation, with healthcare services continuing to manage high patient volumes while infrastructure repairs and debris removal remain ongoing.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has defended the government’s handling of the disaster following criticism that military personnel and emergency responders arrived too slowly and failed to provide sufficient assistance to people trapped beneath collapsed buildings in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes.
The latest figures serve as a reminder that the impact of major natural disasters can extend well beyond the initial emergency, with prolonged disruption to healthcare services, infrastructure, and local operations continuing to affect residents and travellers weeks and months after the event.