Venezuela earthquakes struck northern Venezuela in a pair of powerful tremors, killing at least 235 people and injuring about 940, Venezuelan health authorities said. The back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes — centered roughly 120 miles west of Caracas — damaged buildings across the region and forced closure of Simón Bolívar International Airport, officials added. Those figures are preliminary, health authorities cautioned.
Venezuela earthquakes: what happened
The pair of powerful quakes hit late Wednesday, creating widespread damage across coastal and inland communities. Emergency services reported collapsed structures and mass evacuations in parts of La Guaira state and nearby areas. Officials said road and airport damage have complicated immediate relief efforts.
Simón Bolívar International Airport was closed after inspectors reported structural damage, limiting commercial flights and forcing responders to rely more on maritime and rotary-wing transport to reach isolated communities.
US aid pledge and funding breakdown
The U.S. Department of State announced a $150 million humanitarian assistance package to support relief and recovery. The package, officials said, includes $50 million in new bilateral awards to relief partners and a $100 million contribution to a United Nations humanitarian pooled fund to help coordinate multi-agency response and longer-term needs.
State Department spokespersons said the funding is intended for medical care, emergency shelter, food distribution, water and sanitation, and logistics to support partners already on the ground.
US military and rescue deployments
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) ordered naval and air assets to support the State Department-led humanitarian response. SOUTHCOM named two ships — the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS Billings — for deployment to the region to accelerate response work and provide afloat staging for responders and supplies.
The State Department also deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team and requested specialized urban search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California, to assist with collapsed-structure searches and victim recovery.
“The safety and security of U.S. citizens is a top priority,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We are working to provide consular assistance and to support relief partners and responders on the ground.”
How ships and aircraft will support operations
SOUTHCOM described the USS Fort Lauderdale as a vessel able to function as a floating command center, with a flight deck to support rotary-wing aircraft and a well deck to launch landing craft and small boats. Those capabilities allow coordination of missions at sea, movement of equipment, and delivery of responders to shore where port facilities are damaged or inoperable, SOUTHCOM said.
The USS Billings was positioned to operate near coastal areas to provide agile, close-to-shore support for rescues and rapid staging of supplies. SOUTHCOM said rotary-wing aircraft will be used for urgent medical evacuation and to move U.S. government personnel, search-and-rescue teams and relief partners into areas cut off by road damage.
Local impact and relief operations
Rescue teams and humanitarian partners are prioritizing searches of collapsed structures, emergency medical triage and establishing temporary shelter for displaced residents. Road and airport damage are slowing deliveries, increasing reliance on maritime lift and helicopters to reach hard-hit communities.
Humanitarian organizations typically use bilateral U.S. funding for immediate needs like food, water, sanitation and trauma care. Funds routed through U.N. pooled mechanisms aim to improve coordination across agencies and support medium-term relief planning.
Consular guidance for U.S. citizens
The State Department urged U.S. citizens in Venezuela to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates and make it easier for officials to provide assistance. Enroll at step.state.gov.
U.S. citizens who need immediate help can call the State Department’s emergency line at 202-501-4444. Family members in the United States seeking information about relatives in Venezuela can call 888-407-4747. Consular officials advised Americans to follow local authorities’ instructions, avoid damaged areas and use official sources for travel and safety information: travel.state.gov.
What comes next
Teams from the U.S. government and international partners will continue damage assessments and coordinate distribution of aid. The presence of naval platforms with flight decks and well decks, combined with rotary-wing airlift, is intended to bridge urgent access gaps while land routes and airport infrastructure are repaired or assessed.
Officials said additional U.S. support may be considered as needs assessments clarify longer-term recovery requirements, and that State Department and SOUTHCOM would provide updates as operations progress.
Statements and operational details in this report were provided by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). For original reporting and additional context, see the sources below.
Sources: Fox News; U.S. Department of State: state.gov; U.S. Southern Command: southcom.mil.
