Venezuela earthquake death toll exceeds 5,000; IMF releases $346 mln for relief

The disasters killed 5,069 people, National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez posted on Telegram, with most casualties occurring in the coastal region.

Published July 18, 2026 12:39 pm IST – Caracas AFP

Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building, in the aftermath of the June 24 earthquakes in Venezuela. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month killed over 5,000 people, officials said, while announcing they drew hundreds of millions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for reconstruction.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes struck within a minute of each other on June 24, decimating the coastal state of La Guaira, located north of Caracas.

The disasters killed 5,069 people, National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez posted on Telegram, with most casualties occurring in the coastal region.

The number of people injured remains unchanged at 16,740, with the parliamentary leader earlier stating that most had already been discharged from the hospital.

Later on Friday (July 17, 2026), Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said the country tapped $346 million from the IMF for earthquake reconstruction.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the release of funds, saying on X that the institution "worked with key counterparts to help Venezuela access its own resources at the Fund for urgent humanitarian needs," adding that the funds had been drawn "from their reserve tranche."

Some 20,000 people made homeless by the earthquakes are living in overcrowded camps, many of which lack water supplies and proper sanitation systems.

The IMF and the World Bank announced in April that they were resuming relations with Venezuela, after the United States overthrew Mr. Maduro in a military incursion in January. Relations with the institutions had been frozen since 2019.