Venezuela earthquake Highlights: Death toll rises to 164 after twin quakes hit Caracas, confirms interim president

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World leaders reacted Thursday with messages of solidarity and offers of assistance after two powerful earthquakes shook Venezuela, killing at least 164 people, injuring more than 1,000 and trapping many beneath collapsed buildings.

Chevron Corp. said its Venezuela business remains operational and all of its employees are accounted for after back-to-back earthquakes struck the South American nation.

“As a longtime employer and partner in Venezuela, we stand in solidarity with the country and its people during this difficult time,” the company said Thursday said in a statement. “We remain committed to supporting our employees and the communities surrounding our facilities and ensuring the continued safe operation of our assets.”

The United Nations is “fully mobilised” to provide assistance in quake-hit Venezuela, the UN aid chief said Thursday, stressing the response would require “massive collective efforts”.

“We are fully mobilised to support the people of Venezuela,” Tom Fletcher said in a statement, adding that “the coming days will require a massive collective effort to support the Government-led response and help communities”.

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will provide a “whole-of-government” response to the twin earthquakes that killed 164 people in Venezuela.

Thousands of Venezuelans were feared dead on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes wreaked havoc in and around the capital Caracas, trapping people beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings and setting off powerful aftershocks, Reuters reported.

Iran said Thursday it was ready to help with rescue and relief operations after Venezuela was struck by its strongest earthquake in more than a century.

The Netherlands on Thursday said it would send a rescue team to Venezuela after major earthquakes hit the country.

It said it would allocate roughly two million euros to deploy the team with rescue workers, dogs, and equipment.

Switzerland’s government said Thursday that it would send a large rescue team and tonnes of rescue equipment to Venezuela after twin earthquakes struck the country, killing at least 164 people.

Around 30 aftershocks have been recorded following the two strongest quakes on Wednesday, the interim president said.

Venezuela’s Interim President Delcy Rodriguez says at least 164 people are dead after major earthquakes in Venezuela.

The powerful twin earthquakes that shook Venezuela on Wednesday left dozens of buildings collapsed or heavily damaged in La Guaira state, AFP reported.

Germany is ready to deploy six military aircraft to help with relief efforts in Venezuela after earthquakes killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more, the defence minister said Thursday.

Offers of support and condolences poured into Venezuela on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes left at least 32 dead and hundreds injured.

The EU said Thursday it had activated its satellite surveillance system to help recovery efforts after the earthquake in Venezuela and was ready to provide more help.

“Copernicus is activated and we stand ready to step up assistance,” European Union aid commissioner Hadja Lahbib wrote online.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez warned that the death toll after the two powerful earthquakes hit the country was expected to rise as rescuers searched collapsed buildings and emergency crews reached devastated areas after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck shortly after 6 pm.

Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in an address to the nation late Wednesday and said the quakes caused damage in several states. The casualty figures released early Thursday excluded the state of La Guaira, which Rodríguez described as a “disaster zone” and the area hardest hit.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez said Thursday she had spoken to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone after her nation was hit by powerful twin earthquakes that killed at least 32 people.

China said on Thursday it was ready to send “what help it can” to Venezuela after two massive earthquakes killed at least 32 people and injured hundreds.

“China is willing to provide what help it can in an appropriate manner according to the needs of the Venezuelan side,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a news briefing.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday offered his support to Venezuela with foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares adding that Spain was ready to supply any emergency aid required after two earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday.

“Spain and myself offer our full support to the Venezuelan people following tonight’s devastating earthquakes,” Sanchez posted on X. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families”.

Powerful twin earthquakes in Venezuela have killed 32 people and injured more than 700, the nation’s interim president said Thursday, after the massive shocks collapsed entire buildings and sent people running in panic.