The U.S. military has expanded disaster relief operations in Venezuela after twin earthquakes—measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude—struck the country overnight Wednesday. The death toll has climbed to 1,430 as of Saturday, according to the Associated Press, with families reporting at least 68,900 people still missing.
U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) announced Saturday that a specialized rapid response unit is en route to help Venezuelan authorities resume airport operations after a cracked runway damaged Caracas' main airport. A C-17 aircraft is transporting Miami-Dade search and rescue teams to join ongoing recovery efforts. Teams from Fairfax County and Los Angeles are already on the ground. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters are staged in nearby Curaçao for airlift support.
The U.S. Space Force is providing satellite imagery to help relief planners identify where aid is needed most.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as a "whole-of-government response." In a Thursday statement, Rubio said, "The Department of War is going to have to play a logistical—big logistical role here, because they have the ability to land in challenging places."
The relief effort also comes amid a recent diplomatic shift. The United States established an embassy in Venezuela under interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power after the U.S. military captured Nicolas Maduro.
Tommy Pigott, State Department spokesperson, told NPR, "The actions that President Trump took allowed for the development of so many conversations and relationships that did not exist previously, including the establishment of a U.S. embassy in Venezuela that allows us to provide emergency services to American citizens in the region."
