35k is just where they had to stop counting because of total collapse of the institutions doing the counting

It goes even further than that; even when that number was presented, they ONLY counted the bodies they could identify; all the people under the rubble, and potentially all the dead who couldn't be identified, would not have been counted. Even when they were still actively counting, it was considered an undercount, but they did everything in their power to remain as legit as possible most likely so they don't just get called liars, as they were regardless.