Nine Portuguese and two Spanish nationals confirmed dead in Venezuela earthquakes, with dozens more missing and rescue efforts underway.
MADRID: Nine Portuguese and three Spanish nationals have died in the two major earthquakes in Venezuela that have killed at least 235 people, the countries’ foreign ministries said on Friday.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said 99 Spanish citizens were unaccounted for and another four trapped under the rubble.
The Spanish community in Venezuela numbers 147,000 people, according to Spanish government figures which do not specify how many are dual nationals, a common circumstance.
Portugal’s foreign ministry said 56 of its citizens were missing or otherwise unaccounted for.
Albares said the Spanish cooperation agency had “mobilised an initial package” of one million euros ($1.1 million) through the Red Cross “to respond to the most urgent needs”.
The Spanish defence ministry announced the arrival in Venezuela of a plane carrying 59 army rescuers, two engineers and eight units with sniffer dogs.
Secretary of state for Portuguese communities around the world, Emidio Sousa, said Lisbon would look to provide assistance “based on need”.
He told Portuguese media: “The airports are shut but we are looking at the possibility of sending rescue teams which are the absolute priority at the moment.”
Portuguese President Antonio Jose Seguro addressed a “message of solidarity” to the Venezuelan people and extended that to Portuguese living in Venezuela.
