BOGOTA / Anadolu

Venezuelan authorities announced Wednesday that the earthquake death toll has risen to 5,346 dead and 16,740 injured.

President of the National Assembly of Venezuela Jorge Rodríguez said in a statement that the number of deaths increased by 68 compared to the previous tally.

On Tuesday, Rodríguez said the earthquake death toll was 5,278 and the injured at 16,740.

** Fate of thousands of missing remains unknown

The Venezuelan authorities have not announced an official number of missing, but a civil platform called 'Missing Persons of Venezuela Earthquake' indicated that 29,500 people have been registered since the disaster.

Local media reported that the Venezuelan government asked volunteers to provide DNA samples to help identify the victims.

The United States Geological Survey previously announced on June 24 the occurrence of two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, 39 seconds apart.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Program estimated the direct material damage from the earthquake at about $6.7 billion.