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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences to Venezuela on Thursday after two devastating earthquakes claimed at least 32 lives. Many international leaders promised immediate relief for the tragedy-stricken country.
Meanwhile, a missing persons tracking website reported that more than 7,000 people remain unaccounted for.
"I sincerely share the grief of those who lost their lives in the two earthquakes that struck Venezuela, and extend my condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery to the friendly people and government of Venezuela," Erdogan wrote on X.
"As Türkiye, we stand by our Venezuelan friends during these painful and difficult days," he added.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people for “their heartfelt words of solidarity with Venezuela,” following two deadly twin earthquakes in the South American country.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Ministry also issued a message of condolence for those who lost their lives in two consecutive earthquakes in Venezuela, saying, “Türkiye is ready to provide all kinds of assistance to Venezuela on this painful day.”
In a written statement the ministry said Türkiye was deeply saddened by the heavy loss of life and serious material damage caused by the earthquakes in Venezuela.
According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cited by CNN, the second of the two earthquakes, a magnitude 7.5 tremor, was the most powerful to strike Venezuela in more than a century, ranking as the second-largest in the country's recorded history.
The first tremor, a 7.2-magnitude quake that struck less than a minute earlier, ranks as the fourth-largest ever recorded in Venezuela.
Venezuela's largest recorded earthquake took place in 1900, a magnitude 7.7 tremor off the northern coast near Caracas, with an epicenter only a few hundred kilometers from this week's quakes.
The USGS said the magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 160 kilometers west of Caracas, followed less than a minute later by the magnitude 7.5 tremor.
The USGS specified that the 7.5-magnitude quake struck 23 kilometers southeast of Yumare in Yaracuy state, at a depth of 10 kilometers, while the 7.2-magnitude quake struck 24 kilometers northeast of San Felipe, in the same state, at a depth of 21.9 kilometers.
A website set up to track missing people, shared on X by exiled Venezuelan opposition leaders, listed 7,381 people as unaccounted for as of around 2:45 a.m. Caracas time (6:45 a.m. GMT).
Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said at least 32 people died and more than 700 were injured in the quakes, though officials have cautioned the toll is expected to rise.
The Venezuelan Red Cross, which is responding to the emergency despite reporting critical damage to its own headquarters, said in a statement: "Damage assessments remain preliminary, and the full human impact is not yet known. Strong aftershocks are posing additional risks to affected communities and to the teams responding."
The organization said its rescue teams are assisting with search and evacuation efforts and delivering relief supplies, and reported critical damage to health and public transport infrastructure as well as to homes and businesses in Caracas and across several states.
Amy Pope, director general of the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM), called for urgent international support for Venezuela following the disaster.
Writing on X about the tragedy, Pope said it was heartbreaking that two earthquakes had struck Venezuela within minutes of each other, noting there had been loss of life and that many people were injured and affected.
"IOM is mobilizing with its partners to assess needs and support those affected. Urgent international support is critical for the response," Pope said.
Rodriguez thanked U.S. President Donald Trump on X for his support following the back-to-back earthquakes, saying the Trump administration had been "in constant contact" with Venezuelan authorities.
"(They have been) offering support and solidarity to the people of Venezuela in the face of this tragedy that has plunged us into mourning," she said, adding, "Venezuela will never forget the helping hand extended to our people during these difficult times."
She also thanked other world leaders for their offers of help during a televised address.
Rodriguez has led Venezuela since January, when a U.S. military operation captured former President Nicolas Maduro. She previously served as Maduro's vice president.
Ties between Washington and Caracas have warmed under Rodriguez, whose government has passed legislation opening Venezuela's oil reserves and mining resources to U.S. investment.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted a message of solidarity in Spanish on X: "We express our solidarity with all Venezuelans following last night's devastating earthquakes. I am thinking especially of the victims and their families. We are with you."
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on X that his government was assessing the situation in Caracas and offering assistance measures to support recovery efforts.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said 300 rescuers and paramedics, along with 50 tons of equipment, medicine and essential supplies, were ready to head to Caracas.
Argentine President Javier Milei said in an official statement that Argentina was closely monitoring the situation and stood ready to provide humanitarian assistance.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico was preparing to provide support with specialized rescue and medical personnel.
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