The death toll from Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes has risen to 2,954, according to official figures released on Saturday, as rescue teams begin winding down operations in the worst-hit areas.
Authorities said fatalities increased by more than 300 from Friday, while more than 16,000 people have been injured since the June 24 disaster.
Thousands are still missing following the powerful earthquakes, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and caused widespread devastation.
More than 16,000 people have been left homeless, while about 190 buildings have collapsed, particularly in La Guaira, the coastal region north of Caracas that suffered some of the heaviest destruction.
Ten days after the twin earthquakes struck, emergency workers are increasingly shifting their focus from rescue missions to recovery efforts, even as some families continue to hope for news about missing loved ones.
Experts say the most critical period for locating survivors trapped under debris generally lasts about 72 hours, although a few miraculous rescues have been reported in recent days.
Families remain gathered around collapsed structures waiting for authorities to recover victims and account for those still missing.
The earthquakes have become one of the deadliest disasters in recent Latin American history, leaving communities facing a long road to recovery and reconstruction.
