US sends rescue crews to Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastate nation
Following a pair of catastrophic earthquakes, U.S. search and rescue teams, reinforced by military resources, have been dispatched to Venezuela. The calamity has tragically claimed the lives of at least 920 individuals, while 51,000 more are unaccounted for, and over 3,300 have sustained injuries. In response, the U.N. has also mobilized, sending 1,000 emergency personnel to bolster the recovery efforts in the heavily impacted nation.
Efforts by the U.S. military are underway to aid Venezuela, which was hit hard by lethal earthquakes last week.
“Under the orders of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), military assets from the U.S. continue to arrive in Venezuela today as part of the ongoing earthquake relief mission that the Venezuelan government requested, coordinated by the U.S. State Department,” SOUTHCOM announced in a press statement on Sunday.
SOUTHCOM highlighted that their operations remain entirely self-reliant, with personnel executing their mission without any dependence on local resources, striving relentlessly to provide essential aid to Venezuelans.
On Sunday, Jorge Rodríguez, President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, reported that the death toll from the earthquakes had escalated to 1,450.
A U.S. military V-22 Osprey aircraft lands in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on June 27, 2026, as part of rescue operations following earthquakes. (Federico PARRA / AFP via Getty Images)
“Marines on the ground, saving lives,” SOUTHCOM declared in a Sunday post on X.
“U.S. Marines in Venezuela are supporting U.S. and international first responders during search and rescue efforts in areas hardest-hit by the earthquakes,” the post, which included several photos, continued.
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“The @DeptofWar continues to work closely with the @StateDept to support earthquake relief efforts and deliver assistance to the Venezuelan communities of greatest need. At the direction of #SOUTHCOM, U.S. military forces are supporting U.S. disaster assistance to the people of Venezuela in the aftermath of the June 24, 2026, earthquakes,” the post noted.
First responders aid a U.S. Marine climbing through rubble amid a search for survivors following earthquakes in Venezuela. (U.S. Southern Command on X)
“Racing against the clock to save lives in Venezuela: First responders assist a U.S. Marine climbing through rubble during a search for survivors in earthquake-damaged structures,” SOUTHCOM wrote in a different post on X. “Operating day and night, these crews continue to support international search and rescue operations across the hardest-hit communities.”