Venezuela is receiving widespread international assistance following two powerful earthquakes that struck its northern region on Wednesday evening, causing significant casualties and destruction. The twin tremors, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and occurring less than a minute apart, are considered the strongest to hit the country in over a century.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a nationwide state of emergency and designated the coastal state of La Guaira a disaster zone. As of Thursday evening, the official death toll had reached at least 589, with nearly 3,000 people injured. Many remain trapped under rubble from collapsed buildings, raising fears the final death toll could be substantially higher.

The response has seen an unprecedented outpouring of aid offers from across the Americas, including right-wing governments that severed diplomatic ties with Venezuela less than two years ago following the disputed 2024 presidential election that resulted in Nicolas Maduro securing a third term. In July 2024, Caracas withdrew diplomats from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay amid widespread regional rejection of Maduro’s victory. Paraguay followed suit weeks later, while Ecuador and El Salvador had no formal relations.

Despite these political rifts, several countries quickly extended assistance. Argentina’s Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno conveyed readiness to provide humanitarian aid. Argentina’s President Javier Milei emphasized support transcending governmental differences. Ecuador, which lacks an embassy in Caracas, dispatched aid immediately, with President Daniel Noboa underscoring humanitarian imperatives. El Salvador committed 300 rescuers and paramedics, along with 50 tonnes of equipment, while the Dominican Republic pledged military search-and-rescue teams. Chile, now governed by right-wing leader Jose Antonio Kast, offered to coordinate aid delivery, joined by pledges from Panama, Costa Rica, Peru, and Paraguay.

Traditional Venezuelan allies also mobilized swiftly. Cuban medical personnel are already assisting the injured, while Bolivia expressed readiness to provide necessary resources. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ordered an assessment to identify appropriate support, and Mexico prepared rescue and medical teams at Caracas’ request.

The earthquakes notably struck during a period of political transition in Venezuela. Nicolas Maduro, who had ruled for over a decade, was abducted by U.S. forces in January and remains detained in New York on narcotics and terrorism-related charges. From detention, Maduro called for unity, though Rodriguez has taken the lead in managing the crisis. Relations with Washington have improved since Maduro’s capture, with American Airlines resuming flights to Caracas in late April. The U.S. State Department pledged $150 million in aid, split between a UN humanitarian fund and direct support to Venezuelan relief groups, along with dispatching military aircraft, search-and-rescue teams, and a disaster-response unit.

Neighboring countries largely coordinated their assistance directly with Caracas, maintaining independent diplomatic channels rather than relying solely on U.S. efforts. Colombia, which restored relations with Maduro in 2022, was initially slow to respond, drawing domestic criticism after a 13-hour delay in public comment. President Gustavo Petro later announced deployment of specialists, canine units, and equipment, calling for sanctions relief to enhance Venezuela’s capacity for recovery. Petro warned that economic restrictions combined with the disaster risked increasing fatalities.

China, a significant creditor and investor in Venezuela for years, offered aid deemed “suitable” to the evolving situation, emphasizing confidence in the Venezuelan government’s ability to lead reconstruction. This more restrained stance contrasts with the substantial U.S. aid contribution.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that final casualties could number in the tens of thousands, with economic losses ranging from 1 to 7 percent of Venezuela’s gross domestic product. Meanwhile, a citizen-led platform tracking missing persons had registered over 40,000 reports by Thursday, far exceeding official figures. Relief experts cautioned that the recovery process would likely extend over several years rather than weeks.