WILLEMSTAD – Three Curaçao residents who were stranded in Venezuela following the country's devastating earthquakes are expected to return to the island this afternoon via Bogotá, Colombia, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas announced on social media.
The repatriation follows an appeal issued by the Curaçao government shortly after the earthquakes, urging Curaçao residents in Venezuela to register for emergency assistance so authorities could coordinate support and evacuation efforts.
The government is continuing to encourage Curaçao residents who remain in Venezuela to register through the information service of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In case of emergency, they can also contact the embassy via WhatsApp at +31 85 773 7400.
Meanwhile, the government confirmed that 91 Venezuelan passengers who had been stranded in Curaçao safely returned to their home country on Sunday aboard a humanitarian flight.
The group had been traveling from Madrid to Venezuela when their flight was forced to divert to Curaçao International Airport (Hato) after the powerful earthquakes disrupted operations in Venezuela.
According to the government, the humanitarian response became necessary after the Venezuelan Consulate lacked the financial resources to assist the stranded passengers, while Venezuela's National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) initially did not authorize a recovery flight.
In response, Minister of Justice Shalten Hato immediately established a crisis center and held consultations with government officials in Venezuela to coordinate assistance.
Working together with the Red Cross and private-sector partners, the Curaçao government provided temporary shelter, meals and other essential support for the stranded passengers. Around 40 travelers were accommodated in local hotels, while a sports delegation consisting of 14 minors was housed at Kunuku Aqua Resort.
The Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) ultimately succeeded in arranging the humanitarian repatriation flight, allowing the group of Venezuelan travelers to depart for their home country on Sunday afternoon.
The repatriation efforts are part of Curaçao's broader humanitarian response to the earthquake disaster, which has also included emergency assistance for stranded travelers, support for international relief operations and coordination with regional and international partners.