President Donald Trump said the United States is ready to assist Venezuela after two major earthquakes struck the country, killing at least 164 people and injuring more than 971, according to acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The United States is preparing to help Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country Wednesday, killing at least 164 people, injuring more than 971 and leaving widespread damage in Caracas and other areas, officials said.
President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that early reports from Venezuela were “not good” after the back-to-back quakes hit within seconds of each other.
“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths,” Trump wrote in a post shared online.
Trump said the United States was prepared to move quickly as Venezuelan authorities assessed the destruction and rescue crews searched through rubble.
“The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!” Trump said. “I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends.”
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first earthquake registered magnitude 7.2 and struck at 6:04 p.m. ET, with an epicenter about 15 miles east-northeast of San Felipe. A second quake, measured at magnitude 7.5, hit 39 seconds later about 14 miles southeast of Yumare.
The USGS issued a rare red alert statement, warning that severe impacts were likely.
“High casualties and extensive damage are probable, and the disaster is likely widespread,” the agency said.
Officials said the earthquakes were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. The quakes were followed by nearly two dozen aftershocks.
Rodríguez declared a state of emergency Wednesday. In a televised address, she urged Venezuelans to stay calm and united as emergency crews responded.
“We urge our population to remain calm,” Rodríguez said. “We urge unity.”
On Thursday, Rodríguez said at least 164 people had been killed and 971 others injured.
Damage was reported in the capital of Caracas, where buildings were damaged and rescue crews continued searching through debris.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said American officials were communicating with Venezuelan authorities and preparing assistance.
“The U.S. stands with the Venezuelan people in the aftermath of this evening’s devastating earthquakes,” Landau wrote on X. “We’re in touch with the authorities and mobilizing assistance.”
The State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said the U.S. government was tracking the situation.
“The U.S. Government is closely monitoring the aftermath of a large earthquake in Venezuela,” the bureau said in a statement.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and are committed to supporting the people of Venezuela during this difficult time,” the statement continued.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Thursday that the United States is deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles, with additional teams expected.
“We’re already deploying a search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia and Los Angeles. There will be some others we’ll add. That’s their most immediate need right now, is search and rescue efforts. They have much of collapsed buildings. And so they’ll need a lot of help in terms of digging through that. The airport there is badly damaged, so we’ll have to rely on the Department of War to deploy assets there. And then we’re also helping them with some overhead imagery, especially in coastal areas where they don’t have full visibility over what the damage has been and what the impact has been,” Rubio said while speaking to reporters in Bahrain.
Rubio said several countries, including Qatar, El Salvador and Chile, have contacted the United States to offer support for Venezuela.
He also said U.S. officials expect private donations to increase and are working with charities to help coordinate assistance.
“We’ll also have to manage what we expect is gonna be a surge in private donations. I can imagine that there’s going to be a lot of people from the United States and entities in the United States, we’ve already been in touch with some of the leading charities, but I know at the local level, particularly in places like where I call home in south Florida there’ll be a lot of people that are gonna want to step forward and help and provide assistance and we just need to find the way that we can step in and provide logistical support from that,” Rubio said.
Rubio said the Department of War will play a significant role in delivering aid because of its ability to land aircraft in unconventional locations after the earthquake heavily damaged the airport in Caracas.
The State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs also urged U.S. citizens in Venezuela to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and monitor embassy updates.
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