The earthquakes caused panic in Caracas, with people rushing out onto the streets. “Dozens of buildings have collapsed, and we are now carrying out very intensive rescue operations to save as many lives as God allows us to save,” said Rodríguez in her address on state television.
Rescue teams from other countries are expected to arrive in the coming hours, the interim president added, thanking leaders, in particular US President Donald Trump, who had earlier stated on social media that the US was ready to help in the aftermath of the natural disaster.
Rodríguez, who has been leading the country since the United States ousted Nicolás Maduro, said she had instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate offers of assistance.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States was “immediately deploying” rescue teams and aid to Venezuela. “The State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources and humanitarian aid to Venezuela,” Rubio wrote on social media platform X.
Venezuela is situated in a seismically active zone at the junction of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.