Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes surpasses 5,000

CARACAS —

The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that shook Venezuela last month rose to 5,069 late Friday, local authorities said.

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The interim government of President Delcy Rodriguez added in a statement that the number of injured remains unchanged at 16,740, as it has for the past 11 days.

Ongoing recovery and debris-clearing operations have led to the increase in the death toll, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira, the hardest hit by the quakes close to the Caribbean Sea. A total of 1,331 aftershocks had been recorded by Friday.

Venezuela’s government says 856 buildings are damaged and 190 collapsed completely since the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes June 24. Hundreds of other types of structures, such as bridges and roads, were also affected.