Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 3,535

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed to 3,535, while nearly 17,000 people have been injured and around 6,500 rescued since the disaster on 24 June, an official said on Monday.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said in a post on Telegram that 17,854 people remain homeless following the devastating earthquakes.

The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused widespread destruction, damaging more than 850 buildings and severely disrupting operations at the country's main international airport.

Authorities said 190 buildings had collapsed, while an opposition-backed estimate suggested that more than 30,000 people remain unaccounted for.

Inspecting the damaged Maiquetia International Airport on Monday, acting President Delcy Rodriguez said she had instructed officials to restore commercial flight operations via a parallel runway "as soon as possible" in line with the airport's recovery timetable.

Search and rescue teams continued to comb the worst-affected areas, including La Guaira state, where residents have criticised delays in rescue operations and fuel shortages that have hindered relief efforts.

Speaking during Independence Day celebrations on Sunday, Rodriguez reiterated her call for the United States to lift sanctions, arguing that Venezuela needed greater access to international financing to speed up reconstruction efforts.