Caracas, June 26 -- The death toll in Venezuela following the deadly double earthquakes has risen to 235, while 4,300 people have been injured, health minister Carlos Alvarado said on Thursday evening (local time).

The minister, in an interview with the state television, said that while the injuries include mostly minor cases, many of the serious cases require "surgical intervention." He added that while some of the fatalities were declared "upon arrival" at the hospitals, others showed no "vital signs" of life previously, CNN reported.

"As of 7:00 PM today, we have already attended to more than 4,300 injured people, some minor, most minor, but there are also moderate and serious cases. Many of them have required surgical interventions,...