Jun 25, 2026
2 min read
Guyana has joined a growing regional and international effort to support Venezuela after two massive earthquakes devastated parts of the country, killing at least 188 people and leaving hundreds feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and said Guyana stands ready to provide assistance within its capacity as rescue operations continue.
In a message to Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez, Ali extended condolences to families affected by what is already being described as one of the country's worst natural disasters in more than a century.
Rodríguez thanked Guyana for the offer, describing it as a gesture of respect and good neighbourliness.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck less than a minute apart Wednesday evening near Venezuela's northern coast. The powerful tremors caused widespread destruction across at least seven states, including Caracas, where buildings collapsed and critical infrastructure was damaged.
Venezuelan authorities have declared a state of emergency as rescue teams race to find survivors beneath the rubble. The official death toll stands at 188, but authorities expect that figure to rise sharply.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there is a 44 per cent chance fatalities could eventually exceed 10,000.
Support has begun pouring in from across the region.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley told President Rodríguez that "pain does not stop at a border" and pledged Barbados' assistance, while Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also offered humanitarian support and expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
The United States has likewise pledged assistance, with President Donald Trump saying federal agencies had been instructed to prepare a rapid response.
As aftershocks continue and emergency crews work around the clock, authorities say the full scale of the humanitarian crisis is still unfolding.
