Wshington/La Guaira: The United States military is deploying two warships, transport aircraft and helicopters to offer logistical support for disaster relief operations in earthquake-devastated Venezuela.

According to a statement on X by the US Southern Command, "These forces will provide specialised mobility services and support to US government personnel, search and rescue teams, and US interagency partners as they assess damage, locate the injured, and deliver critical, life-saving assistance."

The American military mobilisation comes as Venezuelans desperately search through the wreckage of collapsed buildings following a pair of massive earthquakes that officials state have killed at least 188 people and left more than 200 trapped. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude shallow quakes struck back-to-back on Wednesday evening near the Caribbean coast town of Moron, causing widespread destruction across northern Venezuela and shaking regions as far away as the Brazilian Amazon.

The coastal area of La Guaira, located north of Caracas, took the brunt of the casualties and damage. Complicating international relief efforts, the nation's primary airport in La Guaira was forced to close due to structural damage.

In tandem with the military deployment, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington is immediately dispatching search-and-rescue units alongside medical assets. To facilitate these humanitarian actions, the US Treasury has temporarily waived certain economic sanctions until October 23, permitting transactions tied directly to Venezuelan earthquake relief that would otherwise be legally prohibited.

The natural disaster presents an immediate crisis for acting President Delcy Rodriguez, the former vice president who assumed office in January following a surprise US military operation that captured former President Nicolas Maduro. Facing an ongoing decade-long economic crisis, Rodriguez declared a state of emergency, announced a $200 million reconstruction fund, and appealed to private businesses for heavy construction machinery.

While international aid promises pour in from nations like Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Qatar, local residents in hard-hit areas are currently forced to dig through the rubble with their bare hands. Amidst the chaos, the long-standing domestic restriction on the social media platform X—originally imposed by Maduro in 2024—was lifted following a plea from United Nations officials, allowing citizens to share missing-person flyers and reconnect with frantic relatives abroad.

 

Agencies