CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) —The United Nations (UN) launched an urgent appeal Wednesday for nearly US$300 million towards Venezuela earthquake relief operations after the death toll from the disaster rose to more than 3,600 people.

There is huge humanitarian need after one of Latin America’s worst earthquake disasters left thousands of people homeless and thousands more still missing. In badly damaged La Guaira, families are still digging for the bodies of loved ones in the rubble.

“Donors are already stepping up, and I pay tribute to them, and I thank them,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said during a meeting on the disaster.