The death toll from Venezuela's twin quakes now exceeds 3000.
The new tally of 3342 released by the Venezuelan information ministry on Sunday, puts the number of injured at 16,470, while the number of homeless has risen to 17,345.
Earlier in the day, in a speech commemorating Venezuela's 215th independence day, interim President Delcy 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.
Search-and-rescue operations are now winding down, 11 days after twin earthquakes devastated the country, with focus now shifting to clearing debris in the hardest-hit northern state of La Guaira as hopes of finding more survivors continue to fade.
Heavy machinery dominated the streets of La Guaira, the epicentre of the destruction, on Sunday as crews cleared the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The cleanup effort has intensified while rescue operations are gradually being scaled back and international emergency teams begin leaving the country, reflecting the fading hope of finding survivors.
The number of people sleeping outdoors after losing their homes has also declined as many have been relocated to temporary shelters or left the disaster zone.
Authorities have established 80 temporary camps to house displaced residents.
A citizen-led website, Missing Earthquake Victims Venezuela, where families can report missing relatives, has registered more than 31,000 people who remain unaccounted for.
Monday's planned reopening of schools will not include the areas most severely affected by the earthquakes.
Child rights group Cecodap said on Saturday that resuming classes cannot be understood solely as the reactivation of the academic calendar, but should instead form part of the comprehensive recovery process for children and adolescents.
The 11th day after the disaster also coincides with the 215th anniversary of Venezuela's independence and six months since Rodriguez became acting president following the US capture in Caracas of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, legislator Cilia Flores.
with EFE
