Venezuela earthquake death toll hits 6,125 as US resumes deportation flights
The death toll from the twin 7.2‑ and 7.5‑magnitude earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June has been revised to 6,125, with 16,740 injured and about 1,400 still missing, according to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. The disasters left roughly 24,000 people in temporary shelters, damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes, and prompted a new housing law that aims to benefit up to 400,000 families. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced a target of delivering 4,000 new homes by the end of the year, and 287 homes have already been handed over to affected families.
The United States resumed deportation flights on 4 August, sending a plane with 147 Venezuelan migrants from Miami to General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in Barcelona, Anzoátegui state – the first such flight since the quakes halted the program. The flight, the 165th since the 2025 migration agreement, follows a pre‑quake flight of 146 migrants, many of whom perished when their hotel collapsed. Program head Mervin Maldonado said the returnees are “reuniting with families, continuing education and contributing to national development.” International assessments estimate the earthquakes caused $6.7 billion in direct economic loss (UNDP) and $19.6 billion in physical damage (World Bank).
Entities: Delcy Rodríguez · Jorge Rodríguez · Mervin Maldonado · United States · Venezuela
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The World Bank Group estimated the earthquakes' direct physical damage at $19.6 billion. (World Bank Group)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The United States resumed deportation flights on 4 August, sending 147 Venezuelan migrants to Anzoátegui. (US Department of Homeland Security / CNN)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Mervin Maldonado said the returned migrants are reuniting with families, continuing education and contributing to national development. (Mervin Maldonado (repatriation program head))
- [● 4 SOURCES] Delcy Rodriguez announced delivery of 4,000 homes to families by the end of the year. (Delcy Rodriguez (acting president))
- [● 5 SOURCES] Two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on 24 June, 39 seconds apart. (USGS)
- [● 4 SOURCES] A prior flight of 146 Venezuelan migrants returned before the earthquakes, and many died when their hotel collapsed. (Venezuelan repatriation program)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The earthquakes caused at least 6,125 deaths and 16,740 injuries. (official data)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] UNDP estimated the earthquakes' direct economic loss at $6.7 billion. (UNDP)