US President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered immediate American assistance to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country, as US government scientists warned that the eventual death toll could range from 10,000 to 100,000 people.

The offer of support came as Venezuelan authorities continued to assess the scale of the disaster. More than five hours after the earthquakes struck, officials had confirmed fatalities but had not released an official death toll, while reports of collapsed buildings and widespread damage emerged from affected areas.

Trump Orders Agencies To Prepare Assistance

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States was prepared to support Venezuela’s response and recovery efforts.

“The two major earthquakes that just hit the great people of Venezuela are both massive in scale and have left a devastating number of deaths. The U.S.A. stands ready, willing, and able to help! I have instructed all agencies of our government to get ready to move quickly. We will be there for our new and great friends. Early reports are not good!!!” he wrote.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez later addressed the nation and confirmed that the earthquakes had caused fatalities, although she did not provide details regarding the number of deaths or injuries. State media also released limited information about the extent of the destruction.

USGS Warns Of Severe Impact

Shortly after the disaster, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the earthquakes could result in between 10,000 and 100,000 deaths through its Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquake Response (PAGER) system.

According to the USGS, the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.2 and struck near San Felipe, approximately 284 kilometres west of Caracas, at 22:04 GMT.

A second, stronger earthquake measuring magnitude 7.5 followed almost immediately near Yumare, around 293 kilometres west of the Venezuelan capital.

The agency warned that “high casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread.”

Vashan Wright, a geophysicist at the University of California, San Diego, explained to Al Jazeera that the PAGER system uses multiple variables to estimate likely impacts soon after a major earthquake.

“Essentially, what it does is takes all known knowledge about the magnitude, depth, location, population density, historical earthquakes, and building inventory… and makes a prediction for what might be expected,” Wright said.

He added that the system’s estimates are often close to eventual casualty figures.

US Deploys Relief And Rescue Resources

The United States has already begun organising humanitarian assistance for Venezuela in response to the disaster.

Jeremy Lewin, Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, said a disaster assistance team and a dedicated task force had been activated to coordinate relief efforts.

In a post on X, Lewin said, “The @StateDept has already mobilized a disaster assistance team and task force to deliver and coordinate critical assistance to the Venezuelan people. Working with our partners in the interim Venezuelan government, the U.S. will be sending search and rescue teams, medical and humanitarian supplies and other resources in the crucial first days after this tragic natural disaster.”

According to CNN, emergency response teams have already been deployed to search for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings and damaged structures.

Earthquakes Strike At Shallow Depth

The Venezuelan capital, Caracas, experienced strong tremors from the earthquakes, which struck western parts of the country and reportedly caused buildings to collapse.

India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS) also recorded the event, reporting a magnitude of 6.8 and a shallow depth of 15 kilometres.

In a post on X, the NCS stated, “EQ of M: 6.8, On: 25/06/2026 03:34:32 IST, Lat: 10.451 N, Long: 68.352 W, Depth: 15 Km, Location: Venezuela.”

With rescue operations under way and authorities still gathering information from affected regions, the full scale of the disaster remains unclear. Emergency teams continue efforts to locate survivors as Venezuela confronts what could become one of the country’s most devastating natural disasters in recent years.

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