Venezuela earthquake disaster worsens: Death toll exceeds 5,000

The death toll from the two major earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 5,278. Venezuela National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez announced on social media that the number of fatalities had increased by 70 to 5,278, and the number of injured had risen to 16,740. Following Rodriguez's statement, it was reported that 1,405 aftershocks had been recorded in Venezuela since the earthquakes on June 24. In a ceremony led by Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez, the first homes built by the government for over 240 families affected by the earthquake were delivered. Rodriguez stated that homes would be delivered regularly every month, with 4,000 homes to be completed by the end of the year, and the goal of exceeding 10,000 homes in 2027. The United States Geological Survey reported that two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurred in Venezuela on June 24, 39 seconds apart. The United Nations Development Program estimated the direct physical damage caused by the earthquakes to be $6.7 billion in its statement on June 26.