Trump says US ready to assist Venezuela after deadly earthquakes

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States stands ready to assist Venezuela after two major earthquakes struck the country's northern Caribbean coast, causing widespread destruction and triggering regional tsunami warnings. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the tremors as "massive in scale" and said they had "left a devastating number of deaths." "The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!" he said, adding that he had instructed all federal agencies to "get ready to move quickly." "We will be there for our new and great friends," he said.

Caracas welcomes aid pledge

Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez thanked Trump and his administration on X for "offering support and solidarity to the people of Venezuela in the face of this tragedy that has plunged us into mourning." She confirmed that she held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who "expressed his solidarity and support for the Venezuelan people during these difficult times for our nation." "We appreciate this expression of solidarity with Venezuela during such a challenging period, marked by the impact of the natural disaster that has affected several regions of the country," Rodriguez wrote. Rubio said on X that the US "extends our deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes." "Our hearts are with all those who have lost loved ones, those injured, and the courageous rescue workers working tirelessly in the aftermath," he wrote. "America stands with the Venezuelan people during this difficult time and at the direction of President Trump, the State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela," Rubio added.

Largest quake in over a century

According to the US Geological Survey, northern Venezuela was struck by an extraordinary double-seismic sequence when a magnitude 7.2 foreshock hit near San Felipe, the capital of Yaracuy state. Forty seconds later, a magnitude 7.5 mainshock struck southeast of Yumare, representing the largest recorded earthquake to strike Venezuela and the country's strongest in more than 125 years. Authorities had not immediately released comprehensive damage assessments, though Rodriguez declared a national state of emergency late Wednesday after the earthquakes caused widespread damage along the northern Caribbean coast. She said at least 32 people had been killed and about 700 others injured in the country's deadliest earthquake disaster in more than a century.