KABUL (Pajhwok): Venezuelan authorities have announced that the death toll from two powerful earthquakes that recently struck the country has risen to 2,645, while thousands more have been injured or displaced.
According to Reuters, Venezuela’s Ministry of Information said on Friday that more than 12,000 people were injured in the earthquakes and approximately 15,000 residents have been left homeless.
The twin earthquakes struck western Venezuela on June 24, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the capital, Caracas. The first measured 7.2 in magnitude, followed less than a minute later by a second, more powerful 7.5-magnitude quake.
The earthquakes caused dozens of buildings to collapse, trapping many people beneath the rubble and causing widespread damage to infrastructure.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency and appealed to international organizations for assistance with relief, rescue, and reconstruction efforts.
Search-and-rescue operations, along with debris removal, continue in the affected areas. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further as rescue teams reach additional affected locations and damage assessments continue.
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