Venezuela: Death Toll Revised to Over 4,500 as Oil Production Reported Intact

Political Transition Underway

Delcy Rodriguez has been serving as interim president since Nicolás Maduro's capture by the U.S. military on January 3, 2026. Since then, she has pursued a policy of openness toward foreign investors and has called on Washington to lift all sanctions against Venezuela.

As part of this effort, she enacted a new hydrocarbon law that reduces the Venezuelan state's participation in petroleum affairs.

Diplomatic Reshuffle

On July 14, 2026, Delcy Rodriguez appointed Félix Plasencia as the new Foreign Minister, replacing Yván Gil. Plasencia, a seasoned diplomat who previously held the position in 2021-2022, was serving as head of the diplomatic mission in Washington before his appointment.

The ministries of External Relations and Foreign Trade were simultaneously merged, according to the interim president's announcement.

U.S. Humanitarian Aid

The United States announced nearly $400 million in aid and the deployment of two military vessels to assist Venezuela, according to the U.S. Embassy.

Timeline

1. Early 2000s
   Venezuela produces approximately 3 million barrels of oil per day, making the country one of the world's leading petroleum producers.
2. 2020
   Production collapses to 350,000 barrels per day—its historic low—following decades of mismanagement and corruption.
3. January 3, 2026
   Nicolás Maduro is captured by the U.S. military. Delcy Rodriguez succeeds him as interim president and initiates a policy of openness to foreign investors, including through a new hydrocarbon law that reduces the state's share in petroleum affairs.
4. June 24, 2026
   Double earthquake (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck 39 seconds apart) strikes Caracas and La Guaira state. The petroleum production basins of Lake Maracaibo and the Orinoco Belt are not affected.
5. June 26, 2026
   The UN estimates that up to 50,000 people are missing. Venezuelan authorities release no official figures on missing persons.
6. July 14, 2026
   The official death toll is revised to over 4,500. Delcy Rodriguez announces that oil production remains unchanged at 1,203,000 barrels per day, appoints Félix Plasencia as Foreign Minister, and announces the merger of two ministries. The United States announces nearly $400 million in aid.

The Numbers

What Remains Uncertain

The number of missing persons remains undetermined. Venezuelan authorities have released no official accounting of missing persons. The UN estimated up to 50,000 missing on June 26, 2026, two days after the earthquake. Some projections suggest a figure closer to 10,000.

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