In response to two massive earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, the European Commission is coordinating the deployment of rescue squads and emergency supplies. According to United Nations data, the twin disasters have claimed the lives of at least 1,430 individuals, while more than 50,000 people remain unaccounted for.
To assist in the relief effort, 520 emergency responders from eight EU member nations—including Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Luxembourg, and Czechia—have been mobilized through the EU civil protection mechanism. Furthermore, the European Union has activated the Copernicus satellite service, switching it to an emergency mapping mode to provide free, critical data on the disaster zone.
On Saturday, Italian Air Force planes arrived in the country carrying specialized search experts and medical professionals coordinated by the nation’s Crisis Unit and Civil Protection agency. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed that over one hundred operators are currently working alongside international and local authorities, with a second aircraft being prepared to deliver additional firefighters and specialized personnel.
Italy has also committed an initial five million euros in financial aid, which will be distributed to humanitarian organizations including Caritas, the Red Cross, and the World Food Programme. Simultaneously, France has dispatched 85 search and rescue experts to Caracas, and Spain’s Military Emergencies Unit is actively involved in search operations at the epicenter using specialized canine units.
Outside of the European Union, the United Kingdom is contributing via the Royal Air Force, which is preparing aid packages for deployment. Turkey has also joined the international effort, dispatching two military aircraft loaded with humanitarian supplies, medical teams, and rescue workers.
The seismic activity, which involved two powerful tremors occurring within one minute of each other on Wednesday night, caused unprecedented destruction across the northern Yaracuy region.
