US President Donald Trump has promised swift assistance to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the South American country on Wednesday.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the two major earthquakes were "massive in scale" and had left "a devastating number of deaths."
He did not say what information he was basing his statement on. Venezuelan authorities initially provided no details on casualties.
"The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!" Trump wrote, adding that he had instructed all US government agencies to prepare to move quickly.
"We will be there for our new and great friends," Trump wrote. "Early reports are not good!!!"
Shortly before Trump's post, the US State Department said it had established a crisis team to coordinate with the Venezuelan government on sending search-and-rescue teams as well as humanitarian and medical assistance. Other countries have also pledged help.
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening. The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quakes at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5.
A USGS model calculation suggested there was a very high likelihood of a large number of casualties.
