Caracas, July 3 (SANA)Venezuela’s interim president,Delcy Rodríguez,announced on Friday that the death toll from the twinearthquakesthat struck the country has risen to 2,595, with more than 12,000 people injured.

Rodríguez said search and rescue operations are still ongoing, adding that 6,462 people have been rescued so far. She noted that 189 buildings were damaged in the disaster.

She expressed gratitude to countries that have provided humanitarian assistance and sent rescue teams, urging the international community to continue supporting relief efforts inVenezuela.

Rodríguez also announced the creation of a $200 million reconstruction fund in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support post-disaster recovery efforts.

The previous official toll, announced by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, stood at 2,295 dead and more than 11,000 injured following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.

TheMinistry of Emergency and Disaster Managementpreviously dispatched an international Syrian rescue team on June 27 to assist in search and rescue operations in Venezuela, in coordination with Qatar’s Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).