Venezuela's death toll from last month's twin earthquakes has climbed past 5,100, even as the International Monetary Fund cleared emergency funding worth USD 346 million to help the country recover, according to an official government report issued this week.
The latest figures put the confirmed fatalities at 5,119, a sharp rise from earlier counts, as rescue and damage-assessment teams continue to comb through affected areas weeks after the disaster struck.
Delcy Rodriguez Confirms the IMF Drawdown
Acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez said on Friday that the country had drawn on its own resources held at the IMF, with the money earmarked for rebuilding infrastructure, restoring essential public services and supporting communities hit hardest by the quakes. In a statement posted on X, she explained that Venezuela had initially accessed USD 346 million from its IMF holdings for the recovery and reconstruction process that followed the tragedy, and said the funds would go toward helping families with housing, infrastructure and basic services. She also thanked IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and the institutions involved, saying, "We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our people and drive the country's recovery forward."
Kristalina Georgieva's Message of Solidarity
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the release of the emergency funds in a separate post on X, expressing sympathy for those affected. "My heart is with the people of Venezuela as they recover from the devastating earthquakes," she said, adding that the Fund had worked with key counterparts to help Venezuela access its own resources for urgent humanitarian needs, and that authorities had now drawn USD 346 million from their reserve tranche.
The Human and Physical Toll
An official report released by Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez laid out the scale of the disaster. It recorded 16,740 people injured and 6,462 people rescued so far. More than 128,000 families have received some form of assistance, and 107 temporary camps have been set up to shelter over 21,000 people who lost their homes. The report also stated that 17,907 people have been left homeless, with 856 buildings affected in total and 190 of them collapsed outright.
Relief Supplies and Response Teams
Authorities said more than 10 million food supplies and over 32 million litres of water have been distributed as part of relief operations. The emergency response includes 2,278 international rescuers and nearly 31,000 deployed personnel, backed by over 31,000 volunteers working across the affected zones. The report also recorded 1,350 aftershocks following the two main earthquakes, underlining how unstable the region has remained since the disaster.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck northern Venezuela last month, triggering widespread destruction and chaos across the region. Rescue, relief and rehabilitation work is continuing as authorities work through the aftermath alongside international teams and volunteers.
