President Trump has offered help to his “great friends” in Venezuela after back-to-back earthquakes left dozens of people dead.
Early estimates suggest thousands of people may have been killed after the two earthquakes hit an area west of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help!
“I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly.”
“We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!! President DJT,” Trump added.
Venezuela has declared a state of emergency after the two earthquakes hit within seconds of each other. The tremors occurred at around 6 p.m. local time on June 24, a national holiday in the country.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) warned there was a substantial probability of the death toll exceeding 10,000, according to predictive modeling.
A website set up to reconnect families affected by the earthquakes has received reports that more than 9,000 people remain missing.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed on X that the U.S. is “mobilizing assistance” and that the country is communicating with Venezuelan authorities.
Jeremy Lewin, a senior State Department official, also revealed on X that the U.S. has directed a disaster assistance team and task force to help the Venezuelan people.
The U.S. will also send search-and-rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the “first days” after the earthquakes.
The deadly earthquakes are the latest blow for a country that was left reeling after the U.S. abducted former President Nicolás Maduro during a military raid in January.
Trump branded Maduro as an “outlaw dictator” following his capture, which was preceded by strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
The U.S. president has often boasted about the operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture and claimed in May that he was “seriously considering” transforming Venezuela into the U.S.’s 51st state.
The Council on Foreign Relations told CNBC that the U.S. has remained Venezuela’s largest oil buyer since January, with the value of U.S.-controlled exports rocketing from $600 million in January to $3.7 billion in April.
