On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States is already sending search and rescue teams to Venezuela in response to the devastating earthquakes that rocked the country's northern region on June 24. The natural disaster has so far resulted in 164 deaths and 971 injuries.
"Search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles are already being deployed. We will be adding more," Rubio stated, emphasizing the urgent need to rescue individuals trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Challenges and Collaborative Efforts
The logistical efforts face immediate challenges as the Maiquetía International Airport has sustained significant structural damage, with at least one runway cracked. Rubio indicated that the Department of Defense must provide the necessary resources to operate under such conditions and confirmed discussions with the Secretary of Defense to coordinate the mission.
The U.S. is also assisting by providing satellite images of coastal areas where Venezuelan authorities lack complete visibility of the damage. "We are also helping with aerial images, particularly in coastal regions where they do not have full visibility over the extent of the damage," Rubio explained.
International Cooperation and Timelines
The American response is not the only one. Rubio noted that Qatar has offered assistance, El Salvador has quickly joined the efforts, and countries like Chile have contacted Washington to coordinate aid.
"We have a comprehensive government response. It will be extensive, rapid, and effective," he declared.
The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes of 7.1 and 7.5, struck northern Venezuela just 39 seconds apart at 6:04 PM local time on Wednesday. The 7.5 magnitude quake is the strongest recorded in the country since 1900, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which issued a maximum Red Alert and estimates a probability of 42% for fatalities ranging from 10,000 to 100,000.
Government Response and International Relations
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a constitutional state of emergency, designating La Guaira as a disaster area and announcing a $200 million fund to address the crisis. "The state of La Guaira is a true tragedy. There are dozens of collapsed buildings, and we are engaging in very arduous rescue efforts to save the lives that God allows us to save," she stated.
Rodríguez publicly expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump and Rubio, a gesture unimaginable during Nicolás Maduro's regime. "I want to thank President Donald Trump and his administration for being in constant contact with the Venezuelan government, offering support, solidarity, and we will be receiving rescuers in the first hours," she affirmed.
This response comes within a radically different diplomatic context than in previous years: following Maduro's capture in January 2026, Rodríguez adopted a pragmatic stance towards Washington, and the U.S. reopened its embassy in Caracas on March 30 as part of a normalization agreement.
Notably, Cuba, a historical ally of the Venezuelan regime, was absent from Rodríguez’s list of countries acknowledged for their international support after the disaster.
Key Details on U.S. Efforts in Venezuela's Earthquake Crisis
What teams is the U.S. sending to Venezuela for the earthquake response?
The United States is deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles, with plans to add more teams as needed.
What are the main challenges faced by the U.S. rescue teams in Venezuela?
One of the main challenges is the significant structural damage to Maiquetía International Airport, which includes a cracked runway, complicating logistics and requiring Department of Defense support.
How has the international community responded to the Venezuelan earthquakes?
Nations such as Qatar, El Salvador, and Chile have offered assistance and coordinated efforts with the United States to aid Venezuela following the earthquakes.