The official Venezuelan report raises the death toll from the earthquakes on June 24 to 3,685

The Venezuelan government updated its official report on victims from the earthquakes of June 24 this Tuesday: 3,685 deceased, according to the statement released by Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly and official spokesperson for the emergency. This figure makes the double earthquake the most significant seismic disaster in Venezuela in over a century.

The official document also reports 16,740 injured, 6,462 people rescued alive, and 17,907 without housing. Since the main earthquake, 1,076 aftershocks have been recorded, and 190 buildings have collapsed out of a total of 856 affected.

The progression of official figures has been constant for almost two weeks: on June 25, only 32 deaths were reported; by June 26, the number had risen to 920; by July 1, it exceeded 2,000, and on Monday, the official tally stood at 3,535. The steady increase in fatalities has raised concerns about the transparency of Nicolás Maduro's regime in managing information.

International organizations point to a much graver scenario. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) projected a 42% probability of a final death toll between 10,000 and 100,000, while the UN and the International Rescue Committee estimate between 50,000 and 68,000 people missing, figures well above those acknowledged by Caracas.

The international response has been massive. According to the official report, 4,388 rescuers from over 15 countries are participating, along with 29,567 personnel deployed and 28,362 volunteers.

A total of 9,603 tons of food and more than eight million liters of water have been distributed, and 87 temporary camps have been set up for those displaced. In total, 86,794 families have been assisted since the beginning of the emergency.

The United States announced a contribution of up to 300 million dollars and on Monday concluded its search and rescue operations, entering the recovery phase. The aid arrived despite the strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas.

The double earthquake —with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, separated by only 39 seconds— had its epicenter near Morón, in the state of Carabobo, and affected La Guaira, Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcón with greater intensity.

Venezuela declared seven days of national mourning starting July 2, with flags at half-mast throughout the country.

The country was already facing a deep humanitarian and institutional crisis before the disaster, which worsened its capacity for internal response. According to RTVE, the official figure of 3,685 deaths recognized this Tuesday could continue to rise in the coming days, as rescue teams keep working among the rubble.