US Venezuelans launch aid drives after deadly Venezuela earthquakes

Venezuelan communities across the United States have begun collecting money, medicines and essentials after deadly earthquakes hit Venezuela. With Caracas airport damaged and thousands still missing, families are relying on diaspora networks to speed up aid and information.

In Short

• Twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on Wednesday night
• At least 188 people died, while hundreds were injured and displaced
• Damage at Caracas airport threatened aid deliveries as thousands remained missing

Venezuelans across the United States are rushing to organise donation drives after powerful earthquakes in Venezuela killed at least 188 people and injured hundreds more, officials said. The 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude quakes struck on Wednesday night, causing severe damage to the main airport in the capital, Caracas, and threatening to slow the arrival of aid.

As thousands remained missing, families in the US were scrambling for updates from relatives back home. More than 7,70,000 Venezuelans live in the US, with large communities in Florida, Texas and Utah, and many began mobilising within hours to collect money, medicines and other essentials.

Oscar Torres, who lives in Doral, Florida, near Miami and home to the largest Venezuelan population in the US, said people had been tracking a flood of messages on a WhatsApp group linking people in Venezuela with family members abroad. "Already this morning, I was looking at the group in Doral and everybody's pitching in -- money, medicine, water. First, necessity items," said Torres, a sales manager who moved to the US from Venezuela in 1995. "They're talking about making the first shipment ASAP." Torres said he still has uncles and cousins in Caracas and Valencia, another badly hit city, and some were injured while fleeing buildings. "Their homes are destroyed and a few buildings have collapsed," he said. "Thankfully, I don't know anyone who passed away."

Photos from the aftermath showed injured children, animals and other civilians, covered in dust and blood, being pulled from concrete rubble. In Houston, where there is also a large Venezuelan community, residents used Facebook groups and other social media to share details of donation points. Items in demand included first aid and medical supplies such as gauze, bandages, antiseptics, disposable gloves, face masks, syringes, thermometers and blood pressure monitors.

Many of the collection points were in Katy, a suburb around 48 kilometres west of downtown Houston, known as "Katyzuela" because of its large Venezuelan population. Daniel Arenas, a local resident, translated a Spanish-language appeal into English and posted it on LinkedIn on Thursday, hoping more people in Houston would donate. "I came to this country 10 years ago, built a life here, but my heart is still in Venezuela," said Arenas, a maritime industry consultant. "It's devastating what's happening over there. They don't have the resources to handle this." He said his wife was worried about her aunt, who lives in a high-rise in Caracas and sent a distressed WhatsApp message after the quakes. "She was crying and screaming and saying she was in pain but not sure from where," Arenas said. "She said she lost everything. She was desperate." He later said his wife managed to reach her aunt.

In Florida, officials in Doral and advocacy groups also used online messages and news conferences to urge people to donate aid. With the airport in Caracas badly damaged and families still waiting for word on missing relatives, Venezuelan communities in the US have begun gathering supplies and funds in an effort to get help to those affected as quickly as possible.

With PTI Inputs

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