The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s Caribbean coast last month has surpassed 5,000, as authorities continue recovering bodies from the rubble.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed on Friday that 5,069 people have been verified dead, primarily in the coastal state of La Guaira, where the quakes caused the most devastation. An additional 16,740 individuals were injured, though Rodriguez noted most have since been released from hospitals.
The toll has risen steadily as rescue teams clear debris and access remote areas affected by the disaster. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which struck within a minute of each other on June 24, severely damaged La Guaira, home to Venezuela’s primary international airport, a major seaport, and numerous residential towers, many of which partially or fully collapsed.
Authorities report over 1,300 aftershocks since the initial quakes. Approximately 20,000 people remain displaced, residing in overcrowded shelters with limited access to clean water and sanitation.
The grim milestone coincides with Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announcing Venezuela’s acquisition of $346 million in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the funds are being released from Venezuela’s reserve tranche to address urgent humanitarian needs.
Fund restrictions were lifted in April 2026 after the IMF and World Bank restored relations with Venezuela, following U.S. efforts to remove former President Nicolas Maduro from power in January. The institutions had suspended ties with the country in 2019 after rejecting Maduro’s government.
Public criticism of the government’s disaster response has intensified, with survivors and opponents alleging inadequate emergency preparedness and delayed action. A Reuters investigation revealed the initial rescue phase was hampered by delayed military deployment, shortages of critical equipment, and unclear command structures, according to military and diplomatic sources.
Rodriguez has repeatedly dismissed these allegations, characterizing reports of administrative failures as a “narrative manufactured by media laboratories” and asserting that authorities acted swiftly.
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![New Israeli Regulation Permits Use of Crocodiles for Prison Security</TITLE]Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has officially reclassified crocodiles from wild animals to “captive-bred wildlife.” This regulatory shift facilitates the use of these reptiles for security operations, including the prevention of prison escapes.National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the decision. Ben Gvir previously proposed a concept in December involving the use of crocodiles to secure prisons for Palestinian detainees, drawing parallels to Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facilities.“Are you thinking of attempting to escape? Think again,” Ben Gvir stated in a social media post on Thursday, accompanied by an AI-generated image depicting himself holding a crocodile on a leash. The post’s caption noted, “Ministers Ben Gvir and Silman are cooperating and encircling prisons with crocodiles!”Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attends a vote at the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 13. Photo: EPAThe new classification transfers regulatory oversight of these animals from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to a “security body.” The Israel Prison Service, overseen by Ben Gvir, is among the entities granted this authority.](https://i0.wp.com/cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/og_image_scmp_generic/public/d8/images/canvas/2026/07/19/4fef4c51-291a-44b4-973d-68f5c3e2a7ef_f055c158.jpg?itok=NYAyqC5M&v=1784392709&w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "New Israeli Regulation Permits Use of Crocodiles for Prison Security</TITLE]Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman has officially reclassified crocodiles from wild animals to “captive-bred wildlife.” This regulatory shift facilitates the use of these reptiles for security operations, including the prevention of prison escapes.National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the decision. Ben Gvir previously proposed a concept in December involving the use of crocodiles to secure prisons for Palestinian detainees, drawing parallels to Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention facilities.“Are you thinking of attempting to escape? Think again,” Ben Gvir stated in a social media post on Thursday, accompanied by an AI-generated image depicting himself holding a crocodile on a leash. The post’s caption noted, “Ministers Ben Gvir and Silman are cooperating and encircling prisons with crocodiles!”Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attends a vote at the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 13. Photo: EPAThe new classification transfers regulatory oversight of these animals from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to a “security body.” The Israel Prison Service, overseen by Ben Gvir, is among the entities granted this authority.")
