Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 2,295, parliament speaker says

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez updated the casualty figures from two major earthquakes that struck the country, placing the death toll at 2,295 and the number of injured at 11,267. Speaking at an official briefing, Rodríguez said 12,841 people were left homeless and 26,403 in total had suffered physical and psychological effects, housing losses or damage. Temporary camps with bathing facilities, beds and mattresses have been set up in Caracas and La Guaira state, where medical aid, psychological support, food and drinking water are being provided. La Guaira, the coastal state north of the capital, sustained the heaviest damage; Acting President Delcy Rodríguez described the situation as "a real tragedy," with dozens of buildings collapsed and infrastructure seriously damaged. Simón Bolívar International Airport was closed due to structural damage before being partially reopened several days later to receive relief supplies. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck on the evening of 24 June local time within less than a minute, with epicenters near the northern cities of Morón and San Felipe. More than 500 aftershocks have since been recorded.