The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s Caribbean coast last month has exceeded 5,000, with authorities continuing to recover bodies from the rubble. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed on Friday, July 18th, 2026, that 5,069 people have died, most of them in the coastal state of La Guaira, which suffered the worst destruction.

In addition, 16,740 people were injured, though Rodriguez noted that most have since been discharged from hospitals.

The announcement coincided with Interim President Delcy Rodriguez revealing that Venezuela secured $346 million in emergency financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF had suspended ties with Venezuela in 2019 after refusing to recognize Maduro’s government.

An investigation published on Saturday found that the initial days of the rescue efforts were hindered by delayed military deployment orders, shortages of basic rescue equipment, and confusion caused by overlapping chains of command, according to military and diplomatic sources.

Additional reports highlight Venezuela’s turn to Israel as a matter of survival, the extensive human toll of the earthquakes, and ongoing uncertainty clouding the country’s recovery three weeks after the event.

Sources