Venezuela death toll from twin earthquakes exceeds 4,000

CARACAS, Venezuela — The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has surpassed 4,000, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, who announced the updated figures on Telegram. At least 4,118 people were killed and 16,740 others injured in the back-to-back quakes that hit the coastal state of La Guaira on June 24. The second tremor, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck 39 seconds after the first, was the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century. The quakes reduced high-rise residential complexes to rubble across the affected region. Search and rescue teams have suspended operations, although some residents continue searching through the debris for the remains of relatives. The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal for approximately $300 million to support relief efforts. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has called for the release of Venezuelan assets frozen abroad to help fund the country's recovery. No further details on the government's recovery plan were immediately available.