in brief
- Support for the disaster-struck South American nation has come from across the globe.
- Members of Australia's Venezuelan community are waiting for news of their loved ones as communication from the country is a challenge.
Australians have been caught up in the devastating earthquakes that hit Venezuela on Thursday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that it is providing consular support "to a small number of Australians that have been affected by the earthquake in Venezuela".
"Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment on individual cases," a spokesperson told SBS News in a statement. They did not confirm in what capacity those citizens have been impacted.
Australian officials are in close contact with local authorities, government, and partners who are attempting to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
Australia does not have an embassy in Venezuela, and the government's ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that his heart "goes out" to anyone with relatives or friends in the country who have been affected by the natural disasters that struck the country's north on Thursday.
"This is one of the worst earthquakes that we've seen in recent times, with catastrophic human consequences, a massive loss of life, but also massive infrastructure damage and real consequences for the people of Venezuela," the prime minister told ABC News Breakfast.
Genesis Lindstrom, president of the Venezuelan Association of Australia, has her community has been desperately seeking information, which is challenging to access given the number of media outlets suspended in the country.
"A lot of the news and updates we're getting are from social media and from people sending through videos and updates," she told News Breakfast.
Lindstrom added that she was in the office when the news broke and started frantically messaging everyone she knows in the country's capital, Caracas.
"Thankfully, as far as I know, most people in my community here have been getting those messages across from family members and loved ones," she said.
Desperate Venezuelans are continuing to dig for people trapped beneath the debris in the worst-hit state of La Guaira, north of Caracas.
The United States Geological Survey measured the earthquakes as magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, which struck within minutes of each other on Thursday.
Venezuela's health minister Carlos Alvarado said the death toll had risen to 235. At least 1,520 are thought to be injured.
International support
The United Nation's Central Emergency Response Fund has released $22 million to support response efforts in Venezuela.
United Nations-certified rescuers will help search for survivors, interim Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez said in a televised message.
Spain and France have said they will send dozens of specialists, while Germany promised six military transport planes.
Switzerland has mobilised 80 personnel, eight rescue dogs, and 18 tonnes of equipment to be sent as soon as possible.
Dutch foreign trade minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma announced a €2 million ($3.29 million) aid package to deploy a search-and-rescue team, while the Czech Republic said its team is preparing to fly in.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it had released US$2.5 million ($3.62 million) to support recovery efforts. This is a fund that Australia contributes to.
Pope Leo XIV sent "initial" emergency aid of €100,000 ($165,000) to Venezuela, the Vatican announced.
US, China willing to help
The US said it was mobilising US$150 million ($217 million) in aid after secretary of state Marco Rubio promised a "whole-of-government response" that would be "big ... fast and ... effective."
"We will be there for our new and great friends," US President Donald Trump said.
China said it was "willing to provide what help it can in an appropriate manner according to the needs of the Venezuelan side", according to foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei voiced "Iran's readiness to provide any assistance required in relief and rescue operations".
Latin American solidarity
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the dispatch of a field hospital to Venezuela, along with 36 firefighters and several rescue and communications specialists via two flights on Friday and Saturday.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country was dispatching a military team of rescuers and medical personnel to Venezuela and would send further assistance if necessary.
"Mexico always stands in solidarity and always will," she posted earlier on X.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said he had readied 300 rescuers and paramedics and 50 tons of equipment, medicines, and basic supplies.
Cuban health workers were already "fully mobilised and providing medical services to the affected population," foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said.
Chilean President José Antonio Kast said he was dispatching humanitarian aid and rescue teams to Venezuela.
Colombia, which also felt the quakes, will send more than 60 rescuers and 12 tons of humanitarian aid to its neighbour, its disaster management agency said.
"Colombia will always help Venezuela," Colombian President Gustavo Petro posted on X, while calling on Trump to lift US sanctions on Venezuela so that rescue efforts can be more fully deployed.
Argentina, Costa Rica and Uruguay also expressed solidarity, while Ecuador and the Dominican Republic both said they had readied aid to send.
Condolences around the world
Japan offered "sincere condolences to those affected" in Venezuela. The east Asian nation was rocked by a 7.2-magnitude quake itself on Thursday, escaping with no major damage.
Spain was the first of several European countries to react to the quakes, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offering "full support" to the Venezuelan people, adding: "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families."
Italian leader Giorgia Meloni and Germany's Friedrich Merz echoed these sentiments.
The French government said it stood "in solidarity" with the Venezuelan people before confirming that its embassy in Caracas had been damaged in the disaster.
Two warring nations, Ukraine and Russia, also sent their condolences without specific aid offers.
The European Union said it had activated its satellite surveillance system, with aid commissioner Hadja Lahbib saying: "We stand ready to step up assistance".
— With additional reporting by the Agence France-Presse news agency.
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