(The Hill) — President Donald Trump late Wednesday offered assistance to Venezuela after two earthquakes hit the South American country.
“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 on Truth Social. “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!”
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit roughly 14.3 miles southeast of Yumare, Venezuela, followed by 7.5 magnitude tremor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The second earthquake hit about 17.4 miles southeast of Yumare, the USGS noted.
Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez said in an address on state television early Thursday that more than 160 people have died and at least 971 were injured during the joint natural disasters, The Associated Press reported.
The USGS also outlined the likelihood of high casualties and damage from the disasters, noting the impact from the quakes is “likely widespread.”
Rodríguez, who succeeded former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after U.S. forces captured him and his wife, Cilia Flores, in January, also said Thursday that classes and other non-essential activities are canceled amid the recovery.
Trump said he instructed all federal agencies “to get ready to move quickly” in response to the earthquakes.”
“We will be there for our new and great friends,” he added. “Early reports are not good!!!”
Early Thursday morning, Rodríguez thanked Trump for his offer and noted U.S. officials “have been in constant contact” with authorities from her country.
“Venezuela will never forget the helping hand extended to our people during these difficult times,” she wrote on social platform X.
During a separate address, Rodríguez said her country “will be receiving” rescuers from multiple countries, including El Salvador, Mexico and Qatar. She added that the governments of Brazil and China, in addition to multiple Caribbean nations, have also offered to send humanitarian assistance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Bahrain on Thursday that the U.S. is deploying search-and-rescue teams to Venezuela and assisting officials there with “overheard imagery” to locate survivors.
Rubio said he expects a “surge” of private donations to the cause and that the State Department will provide “logistical support” to ensure they reach Venezuela. He also noted that he spoke with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about assisting the hard-hit country, adding the Pentagon “has the ability to land in hard-to-get areas, and we’ll need that.”
“In the process of search and rescue, we’ll have a better understanding of how to house people. I know the president has made a commitment to be supportive,” the secretary of state said, referring to Trump.
The U.S. Embassy in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, meanwhile, instructed U.S. citizens in the country to avoid affected areas and damaged buildings, stay informed through local media and seek safe shelter.
