WASHINGTON – The United States has launched a major humanitarian response to assist Venezuela following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday, with search-and-rescue teams, medical resources, and emergency aid already being deployed.
Speaking about the disaster response, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the immediate priority is saving lives by locating people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
"We are already deploying search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles," Rubio said. "There will be additional teams joining them. Their most immediate need right now is search and rescue because so many buildings have collapsed. They will need significant help digging through the rubble."
Rubio added that the U.S. State Department has activated its disaster response teams and humanitarian assistance programs to coordinate relief efforts.
"This is something we did very well in Jamaica after the storm, and it is something we are well prepared for today," he said.
The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart and are among the strongest ever recorded in Venezuela. The twin quakes caused widespread destruction in Caracas and surrounding areas, leaving at least 164 people dead and more than 970 injured, while rescue workers continue searching for survivors beneath collapsed buildings. Authorities expect the death toll to rise as recovery operations continue.
According to the U.S. government, the response will involve a "whole-of-government" effort, with multiple federal agencies participating in the relief mission. Rubio said the operation would be "big, fast, and effective," with the U.S. Department of Defense playing a significant logistical role in transporting personnel, equipment, and humanitarian supplies.
The United States joins a growing number of countries offering assistance to Venezuela, including the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Spain, France, Mexico, Brazil, and China, as the international community mobilizes support for one of the deadliest natural disasters to strike the South American nation in more than a century.