FACTBOX: International aid heads to Venezuela after deadly earthquake

Governments and humanitarian organizations around the world have begun sending financial assistance, rescue teams, and emergency supplies to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday, killing at least 188 people and injuring more than 1,500. Officials expect the death toll to rise as search-and-rescue operations continue.

The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of the capital, Caracas. The quakes damaged at least 250 buildings and left around 200 people trapped beneath the rubble, according to the latest official figures.

The United Nations humanitarian affairs office said it is coordinating the deployment of international urban search-and-rescue teams. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher said the coming days would require a massive collective effort to support the Venezuelan government's response and help affected communities.

Fletcher noted that about 8 million people in Venezuela already required humanitarian assistance before the disaster, warning that the earthquakes could further worsen humanitarian conditions.

The U.S. State Department announced $150 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuela, including $50 million in new bilateral funding for organizations such as the U.N. World Food Programme and International Medical Corps, as well as a $100 million contribution to a U.N. pooled humanitarian fund.

Washington is also deploying a disaster response team with two urban search-and-rescue units while providing airlift, logistics, and coordination support to transport personnel and life-saving supplies into affected areas. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said search-and-rescue efforts remain the country's most urgent need. The U.S. military is also assisting with transporting supplies, personnel, and other relief operations.

Pope Leo XIV has donated €100,000 (about $114,000) from the Vatican's charity fund to support earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela.

World Central Kitchen founder Chef Jose Andres said his organization has begun distributing meals in Caracas. He also announced on X that his Longer Tables Fund will immediately contribute $1 million to support relief efforts.

El Salvador announced it has 300 rescue workers and paramedics ready to deploy to Venezuela, along with 50 tons of medical supplies.

Mexico has dispatched a rescue mission consisting of 250 military rescue personnel, five rescue dogs, four aircraft, a drone, rescue equipment, and medical supplies, President Claudia Sheinbaum said.

Colombia has mobilized an urban search-and-rescue team of more than 60 personnel, four canine units, and 12 metric tons of equipment. Separately, nine firefighters from the city of Cali are joining rescue operations.

Ecuador said it will send a team of 46 urban search-and-rescue specialists, two search dogs, and six metric tons of equipment.

Panama announced it will deploy a rescue mission to Venezuela while organizing humanitarian aid. Authorities have also opened donation collection centers to support relief efforts.

France is sending an urban search-and-rescue team that includes medical personnel, engineers, and search dogs to assist in locating and rescuing survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Spain's Defense Ministry said a military aircraft will transport 57 soldiers from its search-and-rescue unit and 40 firefighters from the Madrid region to Venezuela. Spain's development agency also plans to establish a field hospital.

Italy's Civil Protection Department has deployed an advance team to Venezuela. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said firefighters, the Defense Ministry, and the Italian Air Force have also been mobilized to support relief operations. -Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Compiled by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez in Barcelona; Additional writing by Cassandra Garrison and Fabiola Aramburo, Editing by Edmund Klamann and Cynthia Osterman/Reuters