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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Death toll from Venezuela quakes rises to 3,342

By Alexander Villegas Reuters

The death toll from Venezuela’s twin quakes ​has risen to 3,342, according to numbers released by ⁠the Venezuelan information ministry ‌on Sunday. 

The new ​tally also puts the number of injured at 16,470 while ⁠the number of ‌homeless ‌has risen to 17,345.

Earlier in the ⁠day, in a speech commemorating Venezuela’s ‌215th independence ‌day, interim President Delcy Rodriguez defended ⁠the government’s actions ​following the ⁠quakes ​amid growing frustration over what many have called a ⁠delayed and inadequate response to the disaster.

Rodriguez ⁠said she deployed security forces immediately and announced the ⁠creation of a ‌new military ​unit ‌to help deal ​with emergencies and disasters.

(Reporting by Alexander Villegas; editing by Jonathan Oatis)