KABUL (Pajhwok): The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June has risen to 6,125, with 61,000 people treated in hospitals, the Venezuelan government said.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced the updated figures on Monday in a post on Telegram, saying that 61,000 people had also been treated in hospitals, Al Jazeera reported.
The announcement comes as the government, led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, faces growing criticism over its response to the disaster.
As Venezuelans continued searching for missing relatives and friends following the earthquakes, some residents criticised the government and military forces for what they described as an inadequate response to the devastation.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck on June 24, with the coastal state of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas, among the worst-affected areas.
Rodriguez said 16.5 percent of the debris generated by the earthquakes had been removed, while questions remained over the pace and funding of the country’s recovery efforts.
A World Bank report estimated the physical damage caused by the earthquakes at nearly $20 billion.
Although several countries pledged assistance in the days following the disaster, questions remain over the availability and delivery of the promised funds.
The United States has maintained significant influence over Venezuela since the January military raid that resulted in the removal of former President Nicolas Maduro. Some US economic sanctions imposed during Maduro’s tenure remain in place.
Advocates have called for the remaining sanctions to be eased or lifted, arguing that doing so could help facilitate the transfer of funds and support Venezuela’s recovery.
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