CARACAS — Neighboring countries and international partners dispatched rescue teams and emergency aid to Venezuela on Thursday as authorities continued search-and-rescue operations following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country a day earlier, killing at least 164 people and injuring more than 900, according to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
The twin earthquakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing extensive damage in Caracas and surrounding areas. Buildings collapsed, transportation networks were disrupted, and emergency crews worked through the night to locate survivors trapped beneath rubble, officials said.
Rodríguez said rescue teams were being deployed to the hardest-hit regions, particularly in La Guaira state, which authorities described as among the areas most severely affected. “We are engaged in the arduous task of rescuing the lives that God allows us to save,” Rodríguez said in remarks reported by the Associated Press.
Offers of assistance arrived from across the region and beyond. The United States said it was mobilizing disaster response resources, including search-and-rescue personnel, medical assistance and humanitarian supplies, while coordinating with Venezuelan authorities. The U.S. State Department said a disaster assistance team and task force had been activated to support relief efforts.
Several Latin American governments also pledged support, according to statements cited by international media. Details of the size and timing of some deployments remained unclear on Thursday.
Outside the region, Switzerland announced it would send a specialized rescue contingent consisting of about 80 personnel, search dogs and emergency equipment to assist efforts in Venezuela. Swiss authorities said the mission would focus on locating and rescuing people trapped under collapsed structures.
The earthquakes were among the strongest recorded in Venezuela in more than a century, according to reports citing seismic data and government officials. The tremors were felt across parts of northern South America, prompting evacuations and damage assessments in affected communities.
Authorities declared a state of emergency as rescue workers, police officers and volunteers searched damaged neighborhoods. Casualty figures continued to change throughout Thursday as crews gained access to affected areas and assessed the scale of destruction.
As of late Thursday, emergency operations remained underway, with international rescue teams beginning to arrive and Venezuelan officials warning that the death toll could rise as searches continued in collapsed buildings and isolated communities.
