The number of people killed in the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has exceeded 4,000, according to the latest figures released by the national government.
The updated count represents a significant increase from previous estimates, which had placed the death toll near 3,000 just days prior.
The rising casualty figures underscore the severity of the destruction caused by the seismic events, which have devastated infrastructure across the region.
As the immediate emergency response phase transitions into long-term recovery, the scale of the humanitarian crisis continues to grow.
International rescue teams, which had been deployed in the initial aftermath, have begun scaling back their operations as local authorities take the lead in managing the aftermath.
Earlier this week, reports indicated that more than 11,000 people had been injured in the quakes, with Venezuela’s parliamentary speaker, Jorge Rodriguez, providing regular updates on the situation.