A wave of solidarity is sweeping through Venezuelan neighbourhoods across the United States after two powerful earthquakes tore through Venezuela, leaving at least 188 people dead and hundreds more injured. From Florida to Texas, families who left the country years ago spent Thursday organising donation drives, gathering cash, bottled water, medicines and first aid kits, all while anxiously trying to reach relatives caught in the disaster.
Two huge quakes and a damaged lifeline
The tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck on Wednesday night and rank among the strongest Venezuela has seen in more than a century. They hit Caracas hard, where the capital's main airport suffered heavy damage. That is an especially worrying blow, because relief flights into the country rely on exactly that airport, and the damage could slow aid from arriving. Images emerging from the wreckage showed injured children, animals and ordinary residents being pulled from the dust.
Doral becomes the heart of the response
Oscar Torres, who lives in Doral near Miami, said messages flooded a WhatsApp group that connects Venezuelans with their families back home. Doral is home to the largest Venezuelan population in the US. "Already this morning, I was looking at the group in Doral and everybody's pitching in, money, medicine, water. First, necessity items," Torres said.
Torres, a sales manager who moved to the US from Venezuela in 1995, said people wanted to act fast. "They're talking about making the first shipment ASAP," he said. According to Torres, local officials and advocacy groups in Doral shared the list of needs online and during news conferences. Torres planned to contribute money to the effort.
Torres said relatives in Caracas and Valencia were caught in the shaking, and some were hurt while rushing out of buildings. "Their homes are destroyed and a few buildings have collapsed," he said. "Thankfully, I don't know anyone who passed away." With thousands reported missing, families in the US kept searching for any update.
Texas's 'Katyzuela' and a list of urgent needs
More than 7,70,000 Venezuelans live in the United States, with large communities in Texas and Utah alongside Florida. In the Houston area, residents turned to Facebook groups and other social media, sharing lists of donation sites and urgent supply needs. Many collection points were set up in and around Katy.
Katy sits about 48 kilometres west of downtown Houston and has earned the nickname Katyzuela thanks to its Venezuelan community. Donors were asked for medical and first aid supplies, including gauze, bandages, antiseptics and disposable gloves, along with face masks, syringes, thermometers and blood pressure monitors.
A heart still in Venezuela
Daniel Arenas, a local resident, posted details in English on LinkedIn on Thursday, hoping to reach more people across Houston. "I came to this country 10 years ago, built a life here, but my heart is still in Venezuela," Arenas said. "It's devastating what's happening over there. They don't have the resources to handle this."
Arenas, a maritime industry consultant, said the earthquakes sparked fear for his family in Caracas. He said a WhatsApp message from an aunt described the panic inside a high-rise home. "She was crying and screaming and saying she was in pain but not sure from where," Arenas said. "She said she lost everything. She was desperate." He said contact was later made.
What lies ahead
As the donation effort grows, families keep tracking damage reports and missing persons notices. The airport troubles in Caracas remain a major concern for getting supplies in quickly. Even so, Venezuelan communities in Florida and Texas pressed on with gathering supplies and funds. Organisers said the focus would stay on basic and medical needs while relatives wait for more news from home.
