The death toll from the catastrophic earthquake in Venezuela has risen to 4,490, according to a report from Israeli news site Ynet. The figure is a further increase over earlier counts as recovery and identification efforts continue.
The death toll from the catastrophic twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June has risen to 4,490, according to a report from Israeli news site Ynet on Sunday evening. The figure represents the latest update in a steady climb since the initial reports, with the previous count — 4,118 — reported by Ynet on June 25 at 20:43 Jerusalem. The current toll is based on official sources, as recovery and identification efforts continue.
The Zioneer has tracked the disaster since the first reports on June 25, when Venezuelan authorities put the death toll at 164. The count rose rapidly that day, reaching 2,595, 2,645, 2,954, 3,342, 3,535, 3,685, 3,811, and 4,118 by 20:43 Jerusalem, according to reports from Ynet and Israel's Channel 12, citing official statements. Two independent Israeli media outlets corroborated the figure of 2,645 and 12,666 wounded. Earlier, The Zioneer reported unverified estimates of 1,450 dead and 50,000 missing on June 27, and the UN preparing for as many as 10,000 fatalities on June 29.
Attributed background: The Zioneer reported on June 25 that La Guaira was declared a disaster area and the international airport closed. On July 1, President Maduro declared a week of national mourning. The disaster is the nation's worst seismic event in a century, with thousands still missing.
What remains open: The number of missing people is still unclear. The UN's earlier estimate of up to 10,000 dead has not been reached, but officials caution that the toll is expected to rise further as more bodies are recovered from the rubble.
4 developments
- ConfirmedUN reportedly preparing for up to 10,000 dead in Venezuela earthquake; missing count climbs to 46,000
- DevelopingVenezuela: reports claim 68,900 still missing after earthquakes
- DevelopingPortugal says 28 Portuguese nationals or descendants killed in Venezuela earthquakes
- StrongVenezuela resident describes building collapse, ongoing rescues after quake
Source and signal
- Internal intake