World reacts as devastating Venezuela earthquakes kill at least 188

Condolences and offers of help have been pouring in from countries around the world following back-to-back powerful earthquakes in Venezuela that have killed at least 188 people and injured more than 1,520 others, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Thursday that the first earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.2, struck west of Moron, about 168km (104 miles) west of Caracas. A second tremor of magnitude 7.5 hit near the same area just a minute later. The USGS warned that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable” and that the “disaster is likely widespread”.

Rodriguez declared a state of emergency and said the Simon Bolivar international airport in Caracas is closed due to damage.

The presidency issued a statement expressing “its deepest solidarity” with the Venezuelan people. It said President Javier Milei “extends his hand in solidarity” amid the natural disaster, “despite any differences that may exist between our governments”.

President Rodrigo Paz said that the people’s “hearts go out to the affected families” in Venezuela, and that Bolivia “remains vigilant and ready to provide any necessary support”.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in Caracas to evaluate what assistance Brazil can provide.

“On behalf of Canadians, I offer my sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who were lost,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

Carney also announced that Canada is preparing humanitarian assistance to support Venezuelans “in the days and weeks ahead”.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China is “ready” to assist Venezuela.

“China noted the reports about the earthquakes and offers its sympathies to the Venezuelan government and the affected population,” Guo said.

He added that the government was in close communication with the Chinese Embassy in Caracas, and there were no reports of Chinese nationals in Venezuela being injured or killed in the earthquakes.

“We believe that under the leadership of the Venezuelan government, its people will recover and rebuild soon. We stand ready to see what we can do to help in suitable ways in light of Venezuela’s need.”

The country’s District Institute of Risk Management and Climate Change said it has activated its emergency response team and reached out to Venezuelan authorities to “coordinate the necessary technical and operational support”.

“The goal is to provide all necessary assistance and make our teams available to support this situation,” the disaster response agency said in a post on X.

“We also want to reassure the residents of Bogota: following the earthquake felt in the capital, no damage or structural damage has been reported. The city is operating normally.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez said Cuban health workers in Venezuela “are fully mobilised and providing medical services to the affected population”.

In a post on X, Rodriguez expressed his “deepest condolences and solidarity to the government and brotherly people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake”.

President Daniel Noboa announced that Ecuador is rapidly deploying humanitarian assistance to Caracas.

“I have arranged for the immediate sending of humanitarian aid to address this emergency,” he posted on X. “Ecuador will respond with the speed and commitment that this moment demands because, despite the enormous differences, humanity must always guide the actions of a leader.”

President Nayib Bukele said El Salvador has offered assistance through its Foreign Ministry.

“300 rescuers and paramedics, along with 50 tonnes of equipment, medicines, and essential supplies, are ready to depart for Caracas,” Bukele said in a post on X.

President Emmanuel Macron said 85 French rescue workers would be deployed to Venezuela “immediately”.

“France stands ready, together with its European partners, to provide assistance to the affected populations in response to the needs expressed by the Venezuelan authorities,” he said on X.

“A team of 85 French rescuers specialised in search and debris clearance will be deployed immediately.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief about the earthquakes and said New Delhi was ready to assist.

“We pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and stand in solidarity with all those affected during this difficult time,” Modi wrote.

“India stands ready to extend all possible assistance.”

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, in a statement, announced Iran’s “readiness to provide any assistance required in relief and rescue operations” and expressed Tehran’s “solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela”.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X that she is following the situation with “deep concern” and working to “promptly activate every channel of humanitarian aid and assistance to our compatriots”.

President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela in an X post.

“The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the government of the brother country, and I have already instructed the preparation of the necessary aid,” she wrote in the post.

“For now, they have requested support with specialised personnel in rescue and health. Mexico is always and will be in solidarity.”

The Foreign Ministry extended its sympathies to the Venezuelan people and expressed its regret at the “damages and impacts caused”.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said the Netherlands would be sending a team of rescue workers to Venezuela, describing the needs as “immense”.

Sjoerdsma announced a two-million-euro ($2.2m) aid package to deploy a search-and-rescue team, which includes dogs and equipment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was “deeply saddened by the devastation and loss of life caused by the earthquakes in Venezuela”.

“On behalf of the people of Pakistan, I convey our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Venezuela, especially the families of the victims. We pray for the injured and stand in solidarity with all those affected during this difficult and challenging time,” he said on X.

President Jose Raul Mulino, in a post on X, conveyed Panama’s “deepest solidarity and support” and offered to send humanitarian aid.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani offered condolences to Venezuela in a phone call with President Rodriguez.

Sheikh Mohammed “expressed the State of Qatar’s solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the wake of the two earthquakes that struck the country. He offered his sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and its friendly people, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured,” the ministry said in a statement on social media.

The prime minister and foreign minister expressed solidarity with Venezuela and offered help.

“All my support, and that of Spain, to the Venezuelan people following the devastating earthquakes of this evening,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”

Jose Manuel Albares, the foreign minister, said the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation “is prepared to provide all necessary emergency assistance”.

“My full solidarity with the brotherly people of Venezuela,” he wrote.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had mobilised “the Swiss Rescue Chain, comprised of 80 members, eight rescue dogs and 18 tonnes of rescue equipment”.

“The mission of the Swiss Rescue Chain is to search for, extricate, and rescue victims buried under the rubble,” the ministry said.

It added that “deployment is planned for tonight”.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed condolences for the victims.

“I sincerely share the grief of those who lost their lives in the two separate earthquakes that struck Venezuela, and I extend my condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery to the friendly people and government of Venezuela, wishing urgent healing to the injured,” Erdogan wrote in a post on X.

President Donald Trump posted a message on his Truth Social account, expressing concern over the disaster.

Trump said the earthquakes were “massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths”.

The US “stands ready, willing, and able to help”, and government agencies have been instructed “to get ready to move quickly”, he wrote.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X that the US was “immediately deploying” search-and-rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance.

Uruguay’s president, Yamandu Orsi, expressed solidarity with Venezuelan authorities and citizens. He said Uruguay is ready “to collaborate in any way the Venezuelan government deems necessary”.

The UN’s undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, Tom Fletcher, said the organisation was “fully mobilised” to provide assistance.

He said he had spoken with Rodriguez, and “we are assessing urgently what is needed”.

The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, is also “coordinating the rapid deployment of urban search and rescue teams from across the international community”, Fletcher said.

“I am surging a rapid response team to reinforce the OCHA team in country.”

Pope Leo XIV sent “initial” emergency aid of 100,000 euros ($114,000) to Venezuela, which came from the Apostolic Almonry, the Vatican office responsible for the pope’s charity and aid to populations in difficulty.