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Trump readies aid
President Donald Trump pledged Wednesday to deploy U.S. resources to earthquake-stricken Venezuela after back-to-back tremors of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck near the country’s northern coast, flattening buildings in Caracas and prompting a state of emergency.
Trump said in a Truth Social post Wednesday evening, "The U.S. stands ready, willing, and able to help," and added that he had instructed all government agencies to prepare to "move quickly."
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency in a national address on Wednesday night and later said at least 164 people were killed and 971 were injured, according to Reuters.
The U.S. Geological Survey issued two consecutive red alerts through its PAGER system and estimated a 41% probability that fatalities could exceed 10,000 and a 17% chance they could reach 100,000.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said earlier in the day that the U.S. was in touch with Venezuelan authorities and has been mobilizing assistance, while senior State Department official Jeremy Lewin said the State Department had already mobilized a disaster assistance team and task force to deliver and coordinate critical assistance.
Global reactions diverge
As the death toll climbed, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said condolences and offers of help were pouring in from countries around the world after back-to-back powerful earthquakes in Venezuela that had killed at least 188 people and injured more than 1,520 others.
The USGS said on Thursday that the first earthquake, measuring magnitude 7.2, struck west of Moron about 168km (104 miles) west of Caracas, and that a second tremor of magnitude 7.5 hit near the same area just a minute later.
In the U.S. response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Bahrain that the U.S. is deploying search-and-rescue teams to Venezuela and assisting officials there with "overhead imagery" to locate survivors.
Rubio also said he expects a "surge" of private donations and that the State Department will provide "logistical support" to ensure those donations go to Venezuela.
Meanwhile, the U.S. offer was echoed by other governments, including Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said, "On behalf of Canadians, I offer my sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who were lost," and announced Canada is preparing humanitarian assistance for the days and weeks ahead.
What comes next
The U.S. response is being framed as a rapid, operational effort that includes search-and-rescue teams, medical supplies, and humanitarian resources, with the State Department saying it has already mobilized a disaster assistance team and task force.
“ANI |Updated:Jun 25, 2026 09:52IST Washington DC [US], June 25 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) offered immediate American assistance to Venezuela after two massive earthquakes struck the country, with the US government scientists warning the death toll could potentially range from 10,000 to 100,000 people”
CNBC reported that the U.S. Geological Survey projected the earthquake could dent Venezuela’s GDP by up to 7%, while the Council on Foreign Relations said the infrastructural toll is massive and that those figures are expected to rise.
The Council on Foreign Relations also said the first seventy-two hours are the period when survival rates are highest and that frontline UN and NGO aid workers will look to the United States for support to help fund shelter, food, water, and medical treatment.
In a separate update, Rubio said the Pentagon has the ability to land in hard-to-get areas because the earthquakes damaged Caracas’ airport, and he added, "It'll be big, it'll be fast, and it'll be effective," about the U.S. government response.
For Venezuelan authorities, the immediate stakes include keeping the airport and recovery operations functioning, with Al Jazeera reporting that Rodriguez said the Simon Bolivar international airport in Caracas is closed due to damage.
