The confirmed death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 2,595, according to interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
Speaking at a press conference late Thursday night, Rodriguez rejected allegations that government authorities have been too slow in their response and denied claims that the actual number of fatalities is significantly higher than officially reported.
Rescue teams are continuing to search for survivors in the aftermath of the disaster, which has left more than 11,000 people injured.
The latest figures represent a sharp increase from the 2,295 deaths reported just days prior, underscoring the scale of the destruction and the ongoing challenges in accessing affected areas.
The twin quakes have caused widespread devastation across the country, overwhelming local infrastructure and emergency services.
Rodriguez’s comments come amid growing international scrutiny of the government’s handling of the crisis, with opposition figures and human rights groups questioning the transparency of the official casualty counts.