Venezuela quake death toll rises to nearly 3,000

Venezuela’s devastating twin earthquakes have killed nearly 3,000, official figures showed on Saturday, as international rescue teams began winding down search operations for survivors in the rubble.

Fatalities jumped by more than 300 from Friday to 2,954, following the June 24 disaster that left thousands homeless in the streets and shelter camps.

Tens of thousands more are still missing.

One of Latin America’s worst earthquake disasters hit hardest in the coastal La Guaira area north of the capital Caracas, where scores of residential complexes were flattened.

Ten days after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude double shocks, rescue teams are starting to wrap up searches for survivors while families still try to recover bodies of loved ones from the rubble.

The critical window for rescues in disasters like earthquakes usually ends after 72 hours, though a few people have been found alive this week.