U.S. officials announced on June 24 that Washington has established contact with Venezuelan authorities and is mobilizing assistance after a series of strong earthquakes struck west of the capital, Caracas. The tremors caused buildings to collapse in the city, left people trapped under rubble and led scientists to warn of potentially heavy casualties and widespread destruction across the country.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, posting on X, said: "Were in touch with the authorities and mobilizing assistance." He described the earthquakes as "devastating."
In a separate post on X, State Department official Jeremy Lewin said the department had mobilized a disaster assistance team and a task force to deliver and coordinate critical assistance to Venezuelans. He said: "Working with our partners in the interim Venezuelan government, the U.S. will be sending search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the crucial first days after this tragic natural disaster."
The U.S. embassy in Caracas reported that all American personnel were accounted for following the tremors.
Officials emphasized both immediate life-saving measures and logistical coordination as priorities. The disaster assistance team and task force are organized to facilitate the rapid delivery of search-and-rescue capabilities as well as medical and humanitarian supplies in the initial period after the quake.
Relations between Washington and Caracas have shifted in recent months. The U.S. has engaged with an interim Venezuelan government led by Delcy Rodriguez, a former ally of Nicolas Maduro. That warmer engagement followed an operation in January in which American forces seized the countrys then-President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid on the capital, according to available reports.
As part of the recent engagement, the United States and the interim Venezuelan authorities reached an agreement that includes U.S. sales of Venezuelan oil, and Washington has issued sanctions waivers intended to encourage American investment.
U.S. officials did not provide further operational details in their initial statements beyond the types of teams and supplies being mobilized. The focus for now remains on coordinating with Venezuelan authorities and delivering critical assistance during the early days after the earthquakes.