The United States has announced a $150 million aid package and deployed two warships, transport planes, and helicopters to assist earthquake-hit Venezuela.
The aid push follows back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes that struck near Venezuela's Caribbean coast on Wednesday, collapsing buildings, damaging the country's main airport, and prompting warnings of heavy casualties.
At least 188 people have died, and the US military's Southern Command said its forces would provide support for search and rescue teams and "US interagency partners as they assess damage, locate the injured, and deliver critical, life-saving assistance."
The forces to be deployed include the amphibious transport ship USS Fort Lauderdale and the littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) as well as C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
The funding will support organizations including World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Catholic Relief Services, International Medical Corps, the International Organization for Migration, and the World Food Program.
The US joins a growing international relief effort, with Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, and others offering rescuers, medical personnel, aircraft, or humanitarian supplies.
