Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes tops 6,000
Caracas, Aug. 4 (SANA)The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struckVenezuelain June has risen to more than 6,000, National Assembly PresidentJorge Rodríguezsaid on Monday, as rescue and recovery operations continue.According to Reuters, Rodríguez said nearly 61,000 people remain hospitalized and are receiving medical treatment following the twin earthquakes.He added that authorities have cleared 16.5% of the debris left by the disaster as recovery efforts continue.The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck Venezuela less than a minute apart on June 24, causing widespread destruction, particularly in the northern coastal city of La Guaira, near the capital, Caracas.The twin quakescaused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure and public facilities, prompting a large-scale emergency response that remains underway.