Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Exceeds 5,000

The official death toll from the double earthquake that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 5,069, with thousands more injured and displaced.

A new report revealed that delayed orders from senior military commanders, a lack of basic equipment, and overall confusion hindered the deployment of Venezuelan troops in the crucial first days after the disaster.

The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes caused widespread destruction, and the true scale of the disaster remains uncertain as civilians and international teams performed much of the initial rescue work.

Years of economic crisis had eroded the military's operational readiness, leaving the armed forces unable to respond effectively to the catastrophe.