World leaders reacted Thursday with messages of solidarity and offers of assistance after shook Venezuela, killing at least 164 people, injuring more than 1,000 and trapping many beneath collapsed buildings.
Wednesday evening鈥檚 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes were among the strongest to strike in more than a century and could be felt throughout the region.
Venezuelan officials were trying to make the most of the daylight hours to speed up efforts to rescue people believed to remain trapped under the rubble.
Here are some of the reactions from world leaders to the earthquakes in Venezuela.
US State Secretary Marco Rubio
鈥淭he United States extends our deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes,鈥� U.S. Secretary of State said on the social platform X.
鈥淎merica stands with the Venezuelan people during this difficult time and at the direction of President Trump, the State Department is immediately deploying search and rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian assistance to Venezuela.鈥�
French President Emmanuel Macron
French President took to social platform X to express France’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people and said that a team of 85 French rescue workers specializing in search and clearance operations is 鈥渂eing deployed immediately鈥� to Venezuela.
鈥淔rance stands ready, alongside its European partners, to provide assistance to the affected populations in response to the needs identified by the Venezuelan authorities,鈥� he wrote.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum
Mexican President said that a team of military rescue workers, along with medical personnel, will depart for Venezuela on Thursday. She did not say how many people would be traveling.
鈥淲e will determine tomorrow exactly what additional personnel are needed to continue helping the communities that need it,鈥� the Mexican president said.
Brazil’s President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva
President of Brazil expressed his country’s 鈥渄etermination” to support the government of Venezuela in its recovery efforts.
Lula said on X that he had instructed Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the situation in Venezuela 鈥渁nd to evaluate what assistance measures Brazil might adopt.鈥�
“I reaffirm our determination to support the government of Acting President Delcy Rodr铆guez in the recovery of affected areas in this sister nation, whose people have demonstrated great resilience in the face of adversity,” he wrote.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun
鈥淐hina has taken note of the reports concerning Venezuela. We extend our sincere condolences to the Venezuelan government and the affected people,鈥� Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Thursday in a news conference.
He added that 鈥淐hina is willing to provide assistance to Venezuela to the best of its ability, according to Venezuela’s needs.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez
鈥淎ll the support from me and Spain to the Venezuelan people after the devastating earthquakes of last night,” wrote on Instagram. 鈥淥ur thoughts are with the victims and their families.鈥�
Colombia鈥檚 President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella
鈥淚 stand in full solidarity with the brotherly people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquake. Colombia stands with you during this difficult time with affection, respect, and hope. My prayers are with the victims and their families. God will provide,鈥� Colombian wrote on X.
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