Offers of support and condolences flooded in from around the world on Thursday after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, killing at least 164 people and injuring nearly 1,000.
“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,” US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“The USA stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was preparing a “whole-of-government” response. “It’ll be big, it’ll be fast, and it’ll be effective,” he told reporters, adding that the Department of Defense would play a major logistical role.
China also expressed readiness to assist. Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing was “willing to provide what help it can in an appropriate manner according to the needs of the Venezuelan side.” He added that no Chinese citizens were reported injured.
Latin American nations were among the first to respond.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country had been asked for specialist rescue and medical teams. “Mexico always stands in solidarity and always will,” she wrote on X.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed “great concern and dismay” and pledged support for recovery efforts. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said he had prepared 300 rescuers and paramedics along with 50 tons of equipment, medicines, and supplies.
Cuban health workers were already on the ground providing medical care, according to Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic also offered solidarity and aid.
Japan offered sincere condolences despite being hit by its own 7.2-magnitude earthquake on the same day, which caused no major damage or injuries to its citizens.
Iran announced it was ready to provide rescue and relief assistance. Spain was the first European country to respond, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offering “full support” to the Venezuelan people. Similar messages of solidarity came from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German opposition leader Friedrich Merz.
France confirmed its embassy in Caracas was damaged but said it stood in solidarity with Venezuela. Spain and France later pledged teams of rescuers, while Germany offered six military transport planes, the Netherlands a €2 million aid package with a search-and-rescue team (including dogs), and Switzerland emergency teams and rescue dogs.
Both Ukraine and Russia sent condolences.
The United Nations said it was “fully mobilized” to support Venezuela’s government-led response. UN aid chief Tom Flechtner stressed that the coming days would require “massive collective efforts.”
The European Union activated its satellite surveillance system to assist, while the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies released two million Swiss francs ($2.5 million) in emergency funding and announced a global fundraiser. The Venezuelan Red Cross has already begun relief operations on the ground.
