The death toll from the earthquake in Venezuela has risen to over 1,700, with the United Nations warning that the number will inevitably increase and could reach as high as 10,000.
On Monday, 29 June 2026 GMT+7, Jorge Rodríguez, President of Venezuela's National Assembly, announced that the death toll from the two consecutive earthquakes last week has exceeded 1,700, with more than 5,000 people injured. He added that tens of thousands of people remain missing.
Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro, the United Nations local humanitarian coordinator, said at a press conference that the death toll in Venezuela will "inevitably" rise as search and rescue operations continue, describing the situation as tragic.
Tindaro stated that the UN, in agreement with Venezuelan authorities, is operating on the assumption that 10,000 body bags will need to be prepared. "It is very sad, and we sincerely hope the actual number is lower. That is why we are focusing all efforts on rescue operations right now."
In the hours following the earthquakes, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicated a 44% chance that the death toll could reach 10,000 and a 30% possibility it might climb as high as 100,000.
Tindaro also revealed that since the twin earthquakes on 24 June, Venezuela has experienced more than 500 aftershocks nationwide, including a magnitude 5.2 aftershock on Monday morning.
He added that seven states have been affected, with La Guaira state and the Caracas metropolitan area suffering the most severe damage.
He further noted that at least 2,500 buildings and structures have been damaged, with the majority having completely collapsed.
Although the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors has passed, Tindaro confirmed there is still hope. He said, "Just yesterday, four days after the event and one day beyond the critical 72-hour period, international rescue teams were still able to safely extract seven survivors."
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Source:bbc