Billions in damage after earthquakes in Venezuela

 

TT-AP

 

Published 16:46

  

Damage to buildings in Catia la Mar, Venezuela, after the earthquakes on June 24. Archive photo. Photo: Fernando Vergara /AP/TT

The damage caused by the two earthquakes in Venezuela is estimated to be worth almost $20 billion, according to the World Bank.

The estimate, which was published on Thursday, shows the urgent need for economic efforts to prevent the already economically devastated country from falling into further misery.

At the same time, the World Bank is downplaying the extent of the damage - in a previous report from the UN, the damage was estimated at $37 billion, while the World Bank estimates the damage at $19.6 billion - equivalent to around SEK 190 billion. The estimate only applies to damage to buildings and infrastructure.

So far, 5,398 deaths have been confirmed after the two earthquakes on June 24. Over 16,700 people were injured.