Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 3,811 as Government Seeks Sanctions Relief

Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes have claimed at least 3,811 lives, according to updated figures released Wednesday by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez. Authorities said the June 24 earthquakes also left 16,740 people injured, while 17,907 residents have been displaced, underscoring the scale of the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

As recovery efforts continue, Interim President Delcy Rodriguez renewed calls for the international community to ease sanctions on Venezuela, arguing that frozen overseas assets could provide critical funding for rebuilding damaged communities. Speaking on state television channel VTV, Rodriguez said Venezuela has significant financial resources blocked abroad that could be used to support reconstruction, restore infrastructure, and fund employment and education initiatives for those affected by the disaster.

Venezuela has faced increasingly strict sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and several other countries over the past two decades. These measures were imposed over allegations of anti-democratic practices and claims that the country served as a hub for drug trafficking. While many sanctions remain in place, Washington introduced limited relief for Venezuela’s oil sector earlier this year after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

Following the deadly earthquakes, the United States also authorized a four-month exemption allowing certain transactions related to earthquake relief that would otherwise be prohibited under existing sanctions. The temporary measure is intended to facilitate humanitarian assistance during the emergency response.

Rodriguez also revealed that she had formally asked King Charles to support the release of Venezuelan gold reserves held by the Bank of England. In addition, she said discussions had taken place with the International Monetary Fund regarding access to financial assistance for disaster recovery.

The Bank of England has continued to withhold approximately 31 tons of Venezuelan gold stored in its vaults. The reserves remain at the center of a prolonged legal dispute in British courts, making them inaccessible as Venezuela seeks additional resources to accelerate earthquake recovery and reconstruction efforts.