Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 1,719

The death toll from last week's two back‑to‑back earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed to 1,719, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Tuesday. In an address on state television, Rodriguez told reporters that a total of 5,034 people have been injured and 15,866 families were affected.

Earthquake details

According to the US Geological Survey, two earthquakes measuring magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 struck the South American nation on June 24, 39 seconds apart. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck 23 kilometres southeast of Yumare in Yaracuy state, while the magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred 23.9 kilometres northeast of San Felipe, also in Yaracuy state. The quakes were among the most powerful to hit Venezuela in more than a century, triggering tsunami warnings and widespread damage along the country’s northern Caribbean coast.