WILLEMSTAD – King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima have expressed their condolences to the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday afternoon.
In an official statement released through the Royal House's social media channels, the King and Queen referred to Venezuela as "our neighboring country," highlighting the close geographic ties between Venezuela and the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire across the Caribbean Sea.
The royal couple said they are deeply moved by the tragedy and that their thoughts are with the victims, grieving families, and all those anxiously awaiting news of loved ones.
The powerful earthquakes, which were also felt across Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire, have claimed at least 164 lives in Venezuela, according to the latest official reports. Authorities continue to search through damaged buildings, and the death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.
Meanwhile, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a specialized search-and-rescue team from the Kingdom of the Netherlands will be deployed to Venezuela to assist local authorities with rescue efforts.
The deployment comes as emergency responders race against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings in some of the country's hardest-hit areas.
The earthquakes caused widespread damage to homes, public buildings, and critical infrastructure, while also disrupting operations at Simón Bolívar International Airport near Caracas.
The Kingdom's offer of assistance reflects the close humanitarian ties between the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom and neighboring Venezuela, which has long maintained strong social, economic, and family connections with the islands.
Rescue and recovery operations remain underway as Venezuelan authorities continue assessing the full extent of the destruction caused by one of the country's deadliest natural disasters in recent years.