The United States, El Salvador and other countries offered assistance to Venezuela late on Wednesday after two powerful earthquakes caused widespread damage and raised fears of significant casualties.
The US State Department said it had established a crisis team and was coordinating with the Venezuelan government to deploy search-and-rescue personnel as well as humanitarian and medical assistance.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on X that 300 rescue workers and medical personnel, along with 50 tons of aid supplies, were ready to be sent to the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Brazil and other countries also offered assistance.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said specialized military search-and-rescue teams would depart for Venezuela in the morning.
Authorities had yet to release official figures on casualties or the extent of the damage several hours after the earthquakes.
Two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction. The US Geological Survey measured the quakes at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5.
The second and stronger quake struck at a depth of just 10 kilometres, increasing the likelihood of severe damage and a high number of casualties, according to USGS modelling.
