Trump says US 'ready, willing' to aid Venezuela after twin quakes

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Washington: US President Donald Trump said the US is ‘ready, willing, and able’ to help Venezuela after two huge earthquakes shook the South American country, devastating widespread devastation and raising worries of a massive death toll. He stated that his administration has begun mobilising emergency assistance and was working with Venezuelan authorities to boost rescue and relief efforts.

Trump expressed solidarity to the Venezuelan people, calling them ‘great people’ and Venezuela ‘a new and great friend.’ He stated that the initial reports from the disaster zone were "not good" and cautioned that the amount of dead could be ‘devastating.’ The US State Department has formed a disaster response team and task force to supply search and rescue troops, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid in collaboration with Venezuela's interim administration.

The twin earthquakes, with magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, shook western Venezuela near Morón on Wednesday, destroying buildings in Caracas, trapping people under rubble, and prompting the closing of the country's principal international airport. Authorities issued a state of emergency, halted courses, and cautioned residents to brace themselves for aftershocks as rescue workers continued to hunt for survivors. Scientists have warned that the accident might kill a large number of people and cause widespread damage.