Venezuela quake death toll tops 5,000 as IMF releases emergency aid

IMF releases $346m in emergency funds as new details emerge about the disaster response.The death toll from the twin Earthquakes that tore through Venezuela’s Caribbean coast last month has surpassed 5,000, as authorities continue recovering bodies from the rubble.National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Friday that 5,069 people have now been confirmed dead, most of them in the coastal state of La Guaira, where the Earthquakes caused the worst destruction. Another 16,740 people were injured, though Rodriguez said most have since been discharged from hospital.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Venezuela’s turn to Israel is about survival, not convictionlist 2 of 4‘All we see is decay’: Covering the human toll of Venezuela’s earthquakeslist 3 of 4Venezuela’s recovery clouded by uncertainty three weeks after earthquakelist 4 of 4Venezuela earthquake: Number of known dead rises to nearly 5,000 victimsend of listThe toll has continued to climb as rescue crews clear collapsed buildings and reach areas that were difficult to access in the chaotic days after the disaster.The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 Earthquakes, which struck within a minute of each other on June 24, devastated La Guaira, north of Caracas. The coastal state is home to Venezuela’s main international airport, a major seaport and hundreds of apartment towers, many of which partially or completely collapsed.More than 1,300 aftershocks have been recorded since then, authorities say. Approximately 20,000 people remain displaced, many living in overcrowded shelters without reliable access to clean water or sanitation.$346m in IMF financingThe grim milestone comes as Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced on Friday that Venezuela had secured $346m in emergency financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed the money was being released from Venezuela’s reserve tranche at the fund to meet urgent Humanitarian Needs.