Venezuela Earthquakes Death Toll Exceeds 3,500, Thousands Homeless

Caracas. The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week has risen to over 3,500. Additionally, it is reported that about 18,000 people are still homeless.

According to information provided by MP George Rodriguez on Monday, citing government statistics, 3,535 people have died and 16,740 have been injured in the earthquakes. Furthermore, 17,854 people have been rendered homeless.

At least 12,800 people are residing in 80 temporary shelters in the most affected areas of the capital, Caracas, and the coastal region of La Guaira. According to eyewitnesses, trucks and forensic teams were seen carrying bodies in La Guaira on Monday. Local authorities were seen using machinery to bury bodies collectively in open areas marked with white crosses.

Two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Caracas and surrounding areas with a few seconds' interval on June 24. It is estimated that approximately 60,000 buildings were damaged or completely destroyed by these earthquakes. Experts have warned that another major health crisis could emerge after the earthquakes. Thousands of displaced people are forced to live in crowded temporary camps or under the open sky, where there is a lack of clean drinking water and basic sanitation.

Doctors have stated that many injured individuals have not yet received treatment, and the risk of infectious diseases spreading is increasing. The country's health system is reportedly struggling to cope with the rising number of patients. Eugenio Cova, head of the trauma department at Hospital Jose Gregorio Hernandez in Caracas, warned that infections could spread rapidly among patients affected long after the earthquake. "Treatment for patients with complex injuries is still ongoing. But now, with the added problem of infections, the situation is becoming even more challenging," he said.