Caracas, July 8 (SANA)The death toll from the twopowerful earthquakesthat struckVenezuelaon June 24 has risen to 3,685, according to the latest official figures released on Wednesday.

AFP, citing official data, reported that 16,740 people were injured. TheUnited Nationsestimates that as many as 50,000 people remain missing, while other estimates put the figure at around 10,000.

Speaking during celebrations marking the 215th anniversary of Venezuela’s independence, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the government’s emergency response had helped provide relief to affected communities and address the aftermath of the disaster.

Rodríguez said security forces were deployed immediately to the worst-hit areas and announced the creation of a new military unit dedicated to emergency response and disaster management.

Thetwin earthquakes, both measuring more than magnitude 7.0, struck Venezuela on June 24, causing dozens of residential buildings to collapse, most of them in the coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital,Caracas.