The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that shook Venezuela on June 24 has exceeded 5,000, according to a new toll released by the president of the parliament, Jorge Rodriguez.
Specifically, according to the update, at least 5,069 people have died, 16,740 have been injured, and 17,907 have been left homeless.
The previous official death toll was 4,930.
Authorities have been reluctant to give a number of missing people. In the first 24 hours after the deadly earthquakes, the UN estimated that 50,000 people were missing.
The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck the country 39 seconds apart and caused massive destruction in northern Venezuela, in the capital Caracas and its surroundings, as well as in the neighboring state of La Huira, where thousands of earthquake victims are living in makeshift camps.
