Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 2,954

CARACAS, Venezuela — The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week has climbed to 2,954, officials said. The quakes have also left more than 16,000 people injured. The two tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude on the Richter scale, were recorded on June 24 along the country's northern coast. They occurred just 39 seconds apart and at a depth of 25 kilometers, causing widespread destruction in coastal areas near the capital, Caracas. Officials said the death toll has risen by more than 300 since Friday. Search and rescue teams continue to work through the rubble of collapsed buildings in La Guaira state, north of the capital, where thousands of people remain missing. Authorities warned that the number of dead and injured could rise further as recovery operations proceed under difficult conditions. No further details were immediately available.