Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Nears 3,000

The death toll from Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes has climbed to nearly 3,000, according to updated official figures released on Saturday, as international rescue teams begin scaling back search operations after more than a week of recovery efforts.

Authorities said the number of confirmed fatalities rose by more than 300 since Friday to 2,954 following the powerful earthquakes that struck on June 24. The disaster has left thousands homeless, with many survivors still living in temporary shelters or on the streets.

Tens of thousands of people also remain unaccounted for. While the Venezuelan government has not released an official estimate of the missing, the United Nations believes up to 50,000 people may still be unaccounted for after the back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which struck just 38 seconds apart.

The coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, suffered the worst destruction, with numerous residential buildings collapsing in one of the deadliest earthquake disasters in Latin America's history.

Ten days after the disaster, rescue teams are gradually concluding efforts to search for survivors beneath the rubble, although families continue recovering the bodies of relatives from destroyed buildings. Experts say the likelihood of finding survivors drops sharply after the first 72 hours following a major earthquake, though a handful of people have been rescued alive in recent days.

In a ceremony on Saturday, interim President Delcy Rodriguez honoured international search-and-rescue teams, including their rescue dogs, with medals as many foreign missions prepared to leave the country.

Describing the national tragedy, Rodriguez said Venezuela was experiencing "profound grief," with families still hoping their missing relatives might be found alive while countless others have lost everything.

Several international rescue contingents, including teams from the United States and South America, confirmed they were wrapping up operations. The Los Angeles County Fire Department's rescue unit said it was ending its mission after repeated searches found no further signs of life, while teams from Florida and Virginia also prepared to depart over the weekend.

Many Venezuelans have criticised the government's initial response, saying local residents spent the crucial first hours digging through debris themselves before international assistance arrived. Rodriguez rejected those accusations, insisting that thousands of soldiers and emergency personnel had been deployed immediately after the disaster.

In La Guaira, heavy machinery has begun demolishing unstable, collapsed structures, while elsewhere families continue searching the wreckage to recover loved ones for burial.

"We're still working, still searching for bodies. It hasn't been easy," said volunteer Francisco Sasquia. "We found two bodies that have already been released to their families."

The economic impact is also expected to be severe. The United Nations estimates the earthquakes caused around $6.7 billion in physical damage—equivalent to about six percent of Venezuela's gross domestic product.

The disaster has further strained a country already weakened by years of economic hardship and political instability that had eroded infrastructure and public services.

Maiquetia International Airport in La Guaira, which serves Caracas, sustained damage in the earthquakes. The airport has partially reopened to receive humanitarian aid flights, although commercial operations remain suspended.

Rodriguez said the government was working with international partners to restore the airport and expected to finalise a reconstruction plan next week.

For many families, however, recovery remains deeply personal. Víctor Colivert stood beside the body of his nephew, which had been recovered from the ruins and placed in a black body bag. Fearing the remains could be lost amid the chaos, his family refused to let forensic officials take the body away.

"If I have to go to China, to wherever, but I'm not leaving him alone," Colivert said. "I'm going with him."