The death toll from last week’s powerful earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 1,943, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Tuesday.
Speaking in an address broadcast on state television, Rodriguez said 10,571 people had also been injured following the twin quakes.
According to the US Geological Survey, two major earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude struck Venezuela on June 24, causing widespread destruction across affected areas.
NASA researchers said in a report that nearly 58,870 buildings were likely damaged or destroyed by the back-to-back earthquakes.
Authorities have continued rescue and recovery efforts as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer.