The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela's northern Caribbean coast last month has risen above 5,000 as rescue teams continue recovering bodies from collapsed buildings and authorities expand relief efforts.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said 5,069 people have now been confirmed dead, with the coastal state of La Guaira suffering the heaviest losses.
Another 16,740 people were injured, although officials said most have since been discharged from hospital.
The toll has continued to rise as emergency crews clear debris and reach areas that were difficult to access in the aftermath of the disaster.
The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck on June 24 within less than a minute of each other, causing widespread destruction across the country's northern coastal region.
La Guaira, home to Venezuela's main international airport, a major seaport and hundreds of apartment buildings, sustained the most severe damage.
Government officials said 856 buildings were damaged, including 190 that collapsed completely, while bridges, roads and other infrastructure were also affected.
More than 1,300 aftershocks have been recorded since the earthquakes.
Approximately 20,000 people remain displaced, many living in overcrowded temporary shelters where aid organizations have warned that access to safe drinking water and sanitation remains limited.
International rescue teams joined thousands of Venezuelan emergency workers in search operations following the disaster.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez described the earthquakes as the "most brutal natural catastrophe" in Venezuela's history.
The Venezuelan government announced it had secured $346 million in emergency financing from the International Monetary Fund to support humanitarian needs, recovery and reconstruction.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the funds were being released from Venezuela's reserve tranche.
The IMF and World Bank resumed relations with Venezuela in April after ties had been suspended since 2019.
The United States has also provided more than $300 million in humanitarian assistance.
Public criticism over the government's response has continued in the weeks since the disaster.
A Reuters investigation reported that the initial rescue effort was affected by delayed military deployment orders, shortages of rescue equipment and overlapping chains of command, citing military and diplomatic sources.
Jorge Rodriguez rejected accusations that authorities responded too slowly and said claims of chaos were inaccurate.