The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,342, with 16,740 people injured, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said Sunday.

Rodriguez said in an update on Telegram that the number of people rescued remains at 6,462.

The Venezuelan information ministry said 17,345 people were also displaced.

Since the earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck on June 24, Venezuela has recorded 995 aftershocks, according to the update.

In a speech commemorating Venezuela's ​215th independence day, Rodriguez defended the government's actions following the quakes amid ⁠growing frustration over what ⁠many ⁠have called a delayed ​and ​inadequate response to ‌the disaster. 

Rodriguez said she ‌deployed security ⁠forces immediately and announced the creation of a new ⁠military unit to help deal with emergencies and disasters.

(With input from Reuters)