The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 4,118, according to the government.
The head of Venezuela’s parliament, Jorge Rodriguez, said on Friday that at least 16,740 people were injured after the two earthquakes hit the coastal state of La Guaira on June 24.
The earthquakes destroyed several communities, leaving many buildings collapsed and thousands of people missing.
The stronger earthquake, which measured 7.5 magnitude, struck just 39 seconds after a 7.2 magnitude quake, making it the strongest earthquake recorded in Venezuela in more than 100 years.
Although official rescue teams have stopped searching for survivors, some families are still searching through the ruins in hopes of finding their loved ones and giving them a proper burial.
A smaller 3.0 magnitude earthquake also shook central Caracas on Friday, causing panic and forcing some buildings to be evacuated.
The recovery operation has become a major challenge for Venezuela, a country already facing difficulties due to a long-running economic crisis that has weakened public services.
The United Nations has appealed for nearly $300 million in emergency assistance to support earthquake relief efforts.
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has called for frozen Venezuelan assets held abroad to be released to help with reconstruction.
She also said she had requested that King Charles III of the United Kingdom release about 30 tonnes of Venezuelan gold currently frozen under UK sanctions.
International aid agencies and local authorities continue to provide support to thousands of victims affected by the disaster.