Vietnam ready to provide appropriate assistance for Venezuela after devastating twin earthquakes: foreign ministry

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quakes at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, occurring less than one minute apart off the coast of Carabobo State.

The USGS’s Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response system initially estimated that fatalities could reach tens of thousands under the worst-case scenario.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said at least 32 people had been killed and around 700 injured, while warning that the death toll could continue to rise as rescue teams search for victims trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Speaking at the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ regular press briefing on Thursday, spokesperson Pham Thu Hang addressed questions from the media regarding the situation of Vietnamese citizens in Venezuela and the forms of assistance Vietnam may provide.

She said Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam had sent a message of sympathy to Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez following the devastating twin earthquakes.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, who was in Venezuela when the earthquakes struck, also conveyed his condolences directly to the Venezuelan authorities.

“Based on the traditional friendship between the two countries, Vietnam stands ready to provide appropriate forms of assistance to Venezuela,” Hang said when asked whether Vietnam would send humanitarian aid or deploy rescue teams.

Regarding Vietnamese citizens in Venezuela, she said the Vietnamese Embassy had reported that no Vietnamese nationals had been affected by the earthquakes so far.

The spokesperson added that the embassy is continuing to work closely with local authorities, closely monitor the situation, and stand ready to implement citizen protection measures if necessary.

According to the USGS, the magnitude-7.5 earthquake on Wednesday was Venezuela’s strongest in 126 years. The previous largest earthquake occurred on October 29, 1900, when a magnitude-7.7 offshore quake caused severe damage to churches, public buildings, and homes.

Acting President Rodriguez said international rescue teams are expected to arrive in Venezuela soon to assist with search-and-rescue operations and disaster recovery efforts. Most South American and Latin American countries have pledged to send support.

In Asia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged “maximum support” for Venezuela and expressed condolences to its government and people.

On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Beijing was ready to provide “any assistance possible” based on Venezuela’s needs.

Vietnam updates support for citizens after fire at Moscow trade center

Also at the press briefing, Hang provided an update on efforts to assist Vietnamese citizens affected by a recent fire at Moscow’s Sadovod Trade Center.

She said the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia dispatched officials to the scene immediately after the incident and worked directly with the market management to assess the situation, offer support, and prepare timely assistance measures for affected Vietnamese traders.

“So far, Vietnamese vendors have been allowed to continue doing business at the trade center,” she said.

Sadovod Trade Center is one of Moscow’s largest wholesale and retail hubs. It is commonly referred to by Vietnamese traders as the “bird market” because it previously included an area selling pet birds.

The trade center is home to a large Vietnamese business community operating thousands of stalls selling clothing, footwear, and consumer goods.