Jorge Rodriguez confirms that the death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has surpassed 5,000 as recovery efforts continue.
Jorge Rodriguez, President of the National Assembly, confirmed that 5,069 people have died following two major earthquakes that struck Venezuela's Caribbean coast on June 24. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes caused the most significant destruction in the coastal state of La Guaira, where 190 buildings collapsed and 856 were affected. While Rodriguez reported that 16,740 people were injured, many have already been discharged from hospitals. Approximately 20,000 people remain displaced, with many living in overcrowded shelters. To address the humanitarian crisis, the administration announced that Venezuela secured $346 million in emergency financing from the International Monetary Fund. Despite some criticism regarding the speed of the initial military response, Rodriguez defended the government's actions against claims of chaos. Meanwhile, the nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission, led by Michael Capponi, has provided aid to 115,000 people and established a permanent warehouse in the hardest-hit region to ensure long-term support for survivors.