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Rescue workers and volunteers clear debris from a building collapsed by an earthquake in Caraballeda, La Guaira State, Venezuela, on July 12 (local time). / Photo courtesy of AFP, Yonhap News Agency

The death toll from the two recent powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela has risen to 4,490, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced on July 12 (local time) via Telegram.

The number of injured stands at 16,740, while 6,462 people have been rescued. Among the fatalities, 315 victims remain unidentified.

The disasters have left approximately 17,000 people homeless. A total of 856 buildings sustained damage, with 190 of them completely destroyed or suffering structural collapse.

Speaker Rodríguez announced that the government will begin providing housing next week for the displaced victims who lost their homes in the earthquakes.

According to initial government estimates, roughly 25,000 housing units will be required. The government has already secured 40 plots of land covering about 584,000 square meters in the Osma and Chuspa regions for residential construction.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez stated that she would allocate the first 200 homes next week, though specific details were not disclosed, Reuters reported.

"Search operations are still underway," Speaker Rodríguez said. "As long as there is life, there is hope. We are continuing our search to locate survivors in one or two areas where the situation remains uncertain."

                                                                                                            Park Jin-sook