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The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week has risen to nearly 3,000, according to the latest government figures cited by Bloomberg.
Authorities reported 2,954 fatalities and 16,592 injuries, up from 2,645 deaths recorded the previous day. The number of injured also increased by around 4,000 within 24 hours.
Families of those still missing are urging the government to intensify search-and-rescue efforts.
While officials have not released an official count of missing people, Venezuela’s opposition estimates that more than 32,000 people remain unaccounted for.
The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations warn that, given the scale of the disaster, the final death toll could exceed 10,000.
The earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, causing widespread destruction. According to the UN, nearly 2 million buildings were affected, with estimated economic losses reaching $6.7 billion.
