Venezuela death toll from twin quakes rises to 1,719 as rescues top 6,400

CARACAS, Venezuela — Search and rescue teams have pulled 6,461 people alive from the rubble of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela's northern coast on June 24, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said. The quakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit about 40 seconds apart. Rodríguez added that an estimated 13,400 to 13,500 people freed themselves from the debris in the first hours after the tremors, either on their own or with help from relatives. The death toll has risen to 1,719, with more than 5,000 people injured. Venezuelan authorities said rescue operations have drawn on domestic teams as well as foreign search and rescue personnel. Officials continued to update the situation in areas where search work is still underway, with no immediate timeline given for the conclusion of operations.