Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 2,595, with 12,400 injured
'The number we give is a rigorous number,’ acting President Delcy Rodriguez says
Rodriguez told a press conference the updated figures followed a detailed verification process, adding that authorities cross-checked casualty data before releasing the latest toll.
She said five people who were initially registered as dead were later found to be alive after authorities verified their identities through Venezuela’s fingerprint-based subsidized fuel system.
“We don’t want to give numbers that are not rigorously proven,” Rodriguez said.
The updated figures follow 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in northern Venezuela on June 24.
She also said the government is in talks with the US State Department and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to mobilize resources for rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the earthquakes.
She added that discussions are also underway with the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, which have offered grants as well as credit facilities to support the country’s recovery efforts.
According to Rodriguez, the earthquakes damaged at least 855 buildings.
She said authorities have allocated an initial $200 million for reconstruction and opened a dedicated account at the CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean to receive international donations for housing projects.
Government estimates indicate that around 12,800 people lost their homes, while the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has recorded about 16,000 people displaced by the earthquakes.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
