China and 12 Countries Ready to Send Emergency Aid for Venezuela Earthquake
JAKARTA - The Chinese government has expressed its readiness to send humanitarian aid to victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Venezuela. The twin earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5 that shook the country are reported to have claimed hundreds of lives.
"We are ready to see what we can do to help according to the needs of Venezuela," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press conference in Beijing, Thursday (25/6/2026).
In addition to offering assistance, the Chinese government also expressed its deep sympathy to the victims and believed that the Venezuelan people could soon recover from this disaster.
Based on reports from the Chinese Embassy in Caracas, so far no Chinese citizens have been reported to be injured or dead.
Chronology of the Strongest Twin Earthquakes in 125 Years
According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the earthquake is located west of the coastal area of Moron with a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers. USGS recorded this disaster as the largest earthquake ever hit Venezuela as well as the strongest in the last 125 years.
The chronology of the powerful tremors occurred in very close time:
First earthquake (M 7.2): Shaking on Wednesday (24/6) afternoon local time near San Felipe, the capital of Yaracuy State. Second earthquake (M 7.5): Occurred only 40 seconds later, hitting the southeast region of Yumare.The intensity of the shock caused panic among residents in the capital Caracas and ran out of high-rise buildings. The impact of the earthquake also triggered a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of Venezuela as well as surrounding islands such as Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.
The Number of Victims Continues to Increase, National Emergency Status is Enacted
As of Thursday (25/6), the number of deaths due to earthquakes in Venezuela has reportedly increased to 164 people, while 971 others were injured.
The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has declared a state of national emergency. He said that the number of victims would likely continue to increase.
"The rescue team is currently still focused on evacuating residents trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings and houses," Delcy Rodriguez explained.
Due to the severe damage to infrastructure, Maiquetia International Airport, which is the main airport in Venezuela, was forced to close completely.
USGS and Global Solidarity Predictions for Venezuela
Conditions on the ground are expected to be much worse. The USGS released a modeling analysis that estimates there is a 42 percent chance that the final death toll could jump to between 10,000 and 100,000 people. La Guaira State is predicted to be the most severely affected area.
In the midst of this crisis, waves of international solidarity have begun to arrive. In addition to China, a number of other countries have also expressed their commitment to helping restore Venezuela, including: the United States, Britain, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Cuba, Nicaragua, Barbados, Turkey, Qatar, and Jordan.