Venezuela quake death toll tops 5,000 as IMF releases emergency aid | Earthquakes News
IMF Releases $346 Million in Emergency Funds Amid Continuing Recovery Efforts Following Earthquakes in Venezuela
Published: July 18, 2026
The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s Caribbean coast last month has now surpassed 5,000, as rescue teams persist in recovering bodies from the rubble.
On Friday, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez reported that 5,069 fatalities have been confirmed, predominantly in La Guaira, the coastal state that experienced the most significant devastation. Additionally, 16,740 individuals sustained injuries, although many have since been treated and discharged from medical facilities.
The casualty figures are expected to rise as emergency crews continue to clear debris and reach previously inaccessible regions in the aftermath of the disasters. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes occurred within a minute of each other on June 24, wreaking havoc on La Guaira, which is home to Venezuela’s primary international airport, a major seaport, and numerous residential high-rises—many of which suffered partial or complete collapse.
Authorities report that more than 1,300 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial tremors. Currently, approximately 20,000 individuals remain displaced, many residing in overcrowded shelters with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
As the recovery efforts unfold, Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced the acquisition of $346 million in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed that the funds, drawn from Venezuela’s reserve tranche, are intended to address urgent humanitarian needs.
Relations between Venezuela and the IMF and World Bank were only restored in April, following the ousting of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in January. These institutions had suspended ties with Venezuela in 2019, citing a refusal to recognize Maduro’s government.
Public dissatisfaction with the government’s disaster response has intensified in recent weeks, as survivors and critics accuse authorities of a sluggish response, leaving many trapped beneath rubble. A recent investigation by Reuters revealed that the initial rescue efforts were hindered by delayed military deployment orders, shortages of essential rescue equipment, and confusion stemming from overlapping chains of command, according to military and diplomatic sources.
Rodriguez has consistently dismissed claims of a slow response, attributing such narratives to “media laboratories” and asserting that the government acted promptly in the wake of the disaster.
