The death toll from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela’s northern coast on June 24 has risen to more than 1,700, while thousands remain injured and tens of thousands are still unaccounted for, as rescue teams from around the world continue searching through the rubble.

According to the latest official figures released by Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes have left 5,034 people injured, with 15,866 displaced from their homes and 22,619 receiving treatment in hospitals and medical centres. The United Nations estimates that as many as 68,000 people may still be missing, making it one of the country’s worst natural disasters in more than a century.

The coastal state of La Guaira has suffered the most extensive damage and loss of life. The government has declared the region a disaster zone and placed it under military control as emergency operations continue.

Five days after the disaster, hopes of finding more survivors are fading, though rescue workers remain on the ground. Teams from Venezuela, El Salvador and Mexico were working on Monday to free a 21-year-old man trapped beneath a collapsed building in Catia La Mar, highlighting the continuing efforts despite the passing of the critical rescue window.

The earthquakes struck within seconds of each other on June 24. The first, measuring 7.2 in magnitude, occurred at 6:04 p.m. local time near San Felipe and Yumare. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit farther southeast. The combined shaking lasted nearly three minutes, causing widespread destruction across several northern regions.

Aftershocks have continued to unsettle affected communities. A 4.6-magnitude tremor was recorded in La Guaira, adding to concerns about unstable buildings and hampering rescue efforts.

The international community has expanded support for Venezuela’s emergency response. The United States has deployed aircraft, helicopters and naval vessels to assist rescue operations, while the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean announced a reconstruction fund worth up to $200 million to support recovery efforts.

Authorities have faced criticism from residents who say aid has been slow to arrive. In response, government officials highlighted ongoing relief measures, including the distribution of food supplies and the restoration of essential services.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said electricity had been restored to about 90 percent of La Guaira. He also said engineers were inspecting damaged buildings that pose safety risks and confirmed that 15 temporary shelters had been established for displaced families.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, announced plans to return to Venezuela in the coming days to support those affected by the disaster.

As search operations continue, authorities and aid agencies remain focused on locating survivors, assisting displaced families and beginning the long process of rebuilding communities devastated by the earthquakes.

The fragile peace framework between the United States and Iran came under renewed strain on Sunday after both sides exchanged military strikes over the weekend, raising concerns that ongoing negotiations to end months of conflict could collapse.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accused Washington of violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the agreement intended to halt hostilities, and warned that ships it considers to be in violation of its rules in the Strait of Hormuz would face a “crushing response.”

The latest escalation began after the United States blamed Iran for a drone attack on the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker M/T Kiku, which was sailing toward Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. In response, US Central Command launched strikes against 10 Iranian military sites in and around the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US military, the targets included surveillance systems, air defence installations, drone storage facilities and naval mine capabilities.

Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones at the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Bahraini authorities said a residential building near Bahrain International Airport was damaged during the attack, though no fatalities were reported.

Military activity in the Gulf intensified on Sunday. Journalists in Doha observed US Air Force KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft departing toward the Strait of Hormuz, while flight-tracking data showed several American military aircraft operating in the region in patterns similar to those seen before earlier airstrikes.

The latest exchange has complicated diplomatic efforts. Reports indicated that negotiations between Washington and Tehran had slowed following the renewed violence.

Speaking on Fox News, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump remained committed to diplomacy but warned that the United States would continue targeting Iranian military infrastructure if attacks on international shipping or US forces persisted.

Iranian officials maintained that Washington had broken its commitments. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi said any future violation of the ceasefire would trigger a stronger military response. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would continue overseeing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during the next 30 days under the framework agreement, while state media announced designated transit routes for commercial vessels.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency raised its security threat level for the Strait of Hormuz from “moderate” to “substantial,” citing recent attacks on merchant vessels and warning ships of naval operations and possible mine-clearing activities.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei also issued a statement calling for American and Israeli leaders to face prosecution for what he described as war crimes committed during the conflict.

Adding to regional concerns, Qatar’s Interior Ministry reported that a Qatari citizen was killed after being struck by shrapnel linked to military operations at sea, while another resident was injured and taken to hospital.

Despite the heightened military activity, both Washington and Tehran continue to signal support for diplomatic negotiations, though repeated clashes have cast growing doubt over the future of the ceasefire agreement and stability in one of the world’s most important energy corridors.