Trump says US ready to assist Venezuela after major earthquakes

Washington - United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US is ready to assist Venezuela after two major earthquakes shook the South American country. “The two major earthquakes that just hit the wonderful people of Venezuela are of a very large scale and have caused a number of casualties,” Trump said via his Truth Social platform. “The United States is ready, willing, and able to help!,” Trump said, adding that he had instructed all federal agencies to prepare to move quickly. “We will be there for our great new friends,” he added. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States offered its deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela for the devastating earthquakes. “Our hearts are with all those who have lost loved ones, those who are injured, and the brave rescue workers working tirelessly in the aftermath of this event,” Rubio wrote on X. “America stands with the people of Venezuela during this difficult time and at President Trump’s direction, the State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian aid to Venezuela,” he added. Responding to Trump’s statement, Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez thanked Trump and his administration via X for the support and solidarity offered to the Venezuelan people in the face of the tragedy that has plunged the country into mourning. Meanwhile, according to the US Geological Survey, northern Venezuela was shaken by a rare double earthquake. The agency said a magnitude 7.2 foreshock occurred near San Felipe, the capital of Yaracuy state. Forty seconds later, a magnitude 7.5 mainshock struck southeast of Yumare. The USGS described the mainshock as the largest earthquake ever recorded to hit Venezuela and the strongest in more than 125 years. Authorities did not immediately release official casualty figures or detailed damage assessments. Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency on Wednesday evening after the earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern Caribbean coast, causing widespread damage and triggering tsunami warnings and advisories across parts of the region.