Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes rises to 3,811

Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said on Wednesday that the death toll from the two consecutive earthquakes that struck the country has risen to 3,811. The latest figures indicate that 16,740 people have been injured and 17,907 displaced by the disaster that occurred on June 24.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez renewed calls for the lifting of international sanctions on Venezuela to aid post-earthquake reconstruction, stating that the country holds sufficient foreign assets to help finance these efforts if account freezes are lifted.

Many of these measures remain in place. However, following the United States’ arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, Washington granted specific exemptions for the country’s oil sector.

Delcy Rodríguez said she sent a letter to King Charles requesting the release of Venezuelan gold held at the Bank of England. She also said she had spoken with the International Monetary Fund about releasing funds. The Bank of England has refused to release approximately 31 tons of Venezuelan gold stored in its vaults, and a long-running legal battle over the gold is ongoing in British courts.