World leaders on Thursday expressed solidarity with Venezuela and offered assistance after a powerful sequence of earthquakes struck the country’s northern Caribbean coast, killing at least 32 people and injuring around 700 others.
Here are the first messages:
Türkiye
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye stands in solidarity with Venezuela following the earthquakes, extending condolences to the victims and their families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured.
“We deeply share the grief of those who lost their lives in the two earthquakes in Venezuela and extend our condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured, as well as our sympathy to the friendly people and government of Venezuela” Erdogan wrote through social media platform X.
Türkiye once again underlines that it stands with Venezuela in these difficult times,” Erdogan added.
Pakistan
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed his sympathies, saying he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
“On behalf of the people of Pakistan, I convey our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Venezuela, especially the families of the victims,” Sharif said on X.
He added that Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan people during the crisis and prayed for the recovery of those injured.
China
China said it was ready to send “what help it can” to Venezuela after two massive earthquakes killed at least 32 people and injured hundreds.
“China is willing to provide what help it can in an appropriate manner according to the needs of the Venezuelan side,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a news briefing.
“As of now, there have been no reports of casualties among Chinese citizens,” he added.
India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened” by the destruction caused by the earthquakes.
“On behalf of the people of India, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Venezuela, especially to the families who have lost their loved ones,” Modi said on account.
He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured and said India “stands ready to extend all possible assistance” to Venezuela.
Spain
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez extended his full support for the Venezuelan people following deadly earthquakes that hit the country overnight.
“All my support and that of Spain goes to the Venezuelan people following the devastating earthquakes this evening. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Sanchez said through US social media company X.
Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended her solidarity to Venezuela following the deadly earthquakes, saying coordination is underway to activate humanitarian aid channels.
France
French President Emmanuel Macron extended his “thoughts and support” for the Venezuelan people following deadly earthquakes that hit the country overnight.
“Thoughts and support for the Venezuelan people following the earthquake that struck the country. I extend all my solidarity to the victims, their loved ones, and those mobilized on the ground,” Macron wrote on US social media platform X.
US ‘willing and able’
“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,” US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
“The USA 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.”
Mexico ‘solidarity’
President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X that she had “ordered the necessary aid to be prepared.”
“For the time being, they have asked us for support in the form of specialist rescue and medical personnel. Mexico always stands in solidarity and always will,” she wrote.
