Caracas, August 04 (QNA) - The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June has risen to more than 6,000, authorities said on Tuesday.

Jorge Rodriguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, said the number of fatalities had reached 6,125, while more than 61,000 people remain hospitalized with injuries sustained in the disaster.
He said 16.5% of the earthquake debris has been cleared.

The twin quakes caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira, near the capital, Caracas, where around 20,000 people are still living in temporary shelters set up in stadiums, public squares, and on sidewalks.

La Guaira Governor Jose Alejandro Teran told local media that nearly 1,400 people remain missing.
On June 24, earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck parts of Venezuela, causing nearly 200 buildings to collapse, most of them in La Guaira.

The government has not officially released a nationwide figure for those still missing, but experts estimate the number could be as high as 10,000. (QNA)