The United States government announced late Wednesday that it has reached out to Venezuelan authorities and is working to deliver assistance following a series of powerful earthquakes that struck the South American country.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau took to social media platform X to confirm the outreach, calling the earthquakes “devastating” and stating that the U.S. is “in touch with the authorities and mobilizing assistance.”
The earthquakes hit west of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, on Wednesday afternoon, causing buildings to collapse, trapping people beneath rubble, and prompting scientists to issue warnings about potentially significant casualties and widespread damage throughout the country.
U.S. State Department official Jeremy Lewin also posted on X, confirming that a disaster assistance team and task force had been activated to deliver and coordinate critical aid to those affected.
“Working with our partners in the interim Venezuelan government, the U.S. will be sending search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the crucial first days after this tragic natural disaster,” Lewin wrote.
The U.S. embassy in Caracas confirmed that all American staff members had been located and were safe.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have improved in recent months following the seizure of then-President Nicolas Maduro by American forces during a deadly raid on the capital in January. The Trump administration has since been working with an interim government led by former Maduro ally Delcy Rodriguez, including reaching an agreement for the U.S. to sell Venezuelan oil, and has issued sanctions waivers aimed at encouraging American investment in the country.
