The death toll from the two devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela two weeks ago has risen to at least 3,889, according to an official report Thursday.

Nearly 17,000 people were injured in the earthquakes on June 24, which had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, while about 18,000 others lost their homes.

Death toll

The death toll rose from 3,811 to 3,889 on Thursday, according to a report published by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez on the Telegram app.

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Acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Wednesday called for the release of Venezuela's frozen assets abroad to help the country face the disaster. Meanwhile, the United Nations is seeking to raise about $300 million for recovery operations in Venezuela.

Negotiations for the release of financial assets

The South American country is also in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for the release of financial assets, according to IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack.

In the coastal area of La Guaira, the worst-hit region, more than 800 buildings were damaged and 190 completely collapsed.

Search for survivors

While rescue teams have halted search operations for survivors two weeks after the disaster, some families have not lost hope of finding their loved ones. Ciro Oquendo believes he has identified the spot where his two teenage sons were buried under massive piles of rubble in the Playa Grande area of La Guaira.

Like other grieving parents, he only wants to find the bodies of his two sons, aged 13 and 18, after accepting that there is no chance they survived. He told AFP while using his own tools to dig through the rubble: 'I am in the right place, but there are many obstacles.'