At least 3,811 people died and more than 16,700 were injured when two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast on 24 June, according to updated government figures released on Wednesday. The twin tremors, of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, flattened entire residential blocks in the state of La Guaira, leaving nearly 18,000 people homeless and thousands more missing, local authorities said.

The United Nations launched an urgent $296 million appeal to assist 1.3 million survivors over six months, as rescue teams wound down active searches for the living. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said donors were already contributing, while the organisation estimated total damage at $6.7 billion, equivalent to 6 per cent of Venezuela’s gross domestic product. The international airport serving Caracas remained closed to commercial flights, and 190 buildings were completely destroyed, according to the National Assembly president.

In a televised address, interim President Delcy Rodriguez said she had written to King Charles III requesting the release of approximately 30 tonnes of Venezuelan gold frozen at the Bank of England under British sanctions. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil separately urged all countries holding blocked Venezuelan assets to free them for recovery efforts. Caracas argues the funds are needed not only for reconstruction but also for employment and social programmes. The Bank of England has previously refused to release the bullion, citing a long-running legal dispute over who legitimately represents the Venezuelan state. There was no immediate comment from London on the latest request.

Washington, which had imposed sweeping sanctions on the government of Nicolás Maduro from 2019, suspended several economic restrictions for four months after the quakes to facilitate relief operations. The move followed the capture of Mr Maduro by US forces in January and a subsequent warming of ties with the interim administration. Even before the disaster, Venezuela’s infrastructure and health services were depleted by years of economic crisis. The death toll, officials cautioned, remains provisional as families continue to dig through rubble in search of loved ones.