The death toll from the devastating double earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 4,561, with 16,740 people injured, according to an announcement from National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez . The catastrophic twin tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within 39 seconds of each other, making this the deadliest seismic event Venezuela has experienced in over a century . The coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital Caracas, suffered the most extensive damage, with numerous residential areas completely flattened and thousands left homeless.
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In response to the escalating crisis, interim President Delcy Rodríguez has declared a seven-day national mourning period and established a new military unit to handle emergency and disaster response . The government has also announced the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support post-disaster recovery efforts . However, the administration has faced growing criticism over what many describe as a delayed and inadequate initial response, with residents in affected areas reporting scarce government help in the critical hours following the quakes .
