Venezuela Quake Toll Mounts to 235 as World Rushes Rescue Teams and Emergency Aid

UN-certified rescue teams will join the search for earthquake survivors, interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced in a televised address. Spain and France are each deploying dozens of trained specialists, and Germany has pledged six military cargo aircraft to the relief operation. Switzerland has activated 80 rescue personnel, eight trained search dogs and 18 tonnes of emergency equipment, all set for immediate dispatch to Venezuela. Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma unveiled a two-million-euro relief package that includes a dedicated search-and-rescue unit, and the Czech Republic confirmed its team was preparing to fly out. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) released an emergency grant of $2.5 million to support the country's recovery. Pope Leo XIV dispatched an initial emergency contribution of 100,000 euros (roughly $114,000) to Venezuela, the Vatican confirmed. The United States announced it would send two naval vessels, transport aircraft and helicopters, and mobilise $150 million in humanitarian assistance. China expressed readiness to provide whatever help it can in a manner suited to Venezuela's requirements, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun conveyed. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei declared Tehran's readiness to participate in relief and rescue operations as required. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced the deployment of a field hospital along with 36 firefighters and several rescue and communications specialists across two flights on Friday and Saturday. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country was sending military rescue teams and medical personnel to Venezuela and stood ready to provide further assistance if the situation demanded. Cuban health workers are already on the ground delivering medical services to affected communities, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated. Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast confirmed he was dispatching humanitarian supplies and rescue units to assist Venezuela. Colombia, which also experienced the tremors, will send over 60 rescue workers and 12 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to its neighbour, the country's disaster management agency announced. Argentina, Costa Rica and Uruguay expressed their solidarity with Venezuela, while Ecuador and the Dominican Republic indicated they had already prepared aid packages for dispatch.

Rescue teams and anguished families across Venezuela are sifting through debris in a frantic effort to find survivors after the catastrophic earthquakes killed at least 188 people, leaving many still pinned beneath collapsed structures and large numbers of others wounded in La Guaira.