Overview
- The double earthquake that struck on June 24 left at least 4,490 people dead and 16,740 injured, officials said after rescue teams recovered 157 more bodies over the weekend.
- Authorities report about 19,500 to 20,000 people living in 108 temporary camps and estimate roughly 25,000 housing units will be needed, with a biometric census now under way to register needs.
- The government said it has activated public companies, national industry and the private sector, created an initial US$200 million donations fund and opened talks with the United States and Brazil about support.
- Caracas formally rejected a public offer from Colombia’s president-elect to lead reconstruction and said coordination with the incoming Colombian government is not planned, reflecting diplomatic tension over who will set recovery terms.
- Search-and-rescue efforts continue under the strain of more than 1,200 aftershocks, growing concerns about shelter conditions and unverified reports about early limits on foreign teams and cash caches found in rubble.