Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs to 4,829 as rescue operations continue

Caracas: The death toll from the two devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has risen to 4,829, as rescue teams continue searching for the missing under the roubble, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said.

The quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused widespread destruction in the coastal state of La Guaira when they hit three weeks ago.

A total of 20,857 displaced people are sheltering in camps, most of which lack adequate water supplies and functioning sanitation systems, Rodríguez said. The number of injured stands at 16,740, most of whom have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment.