According to the Ministry of Public Health, upon learning of the earthquakes in the Bolivarian nation, Health Minister Jose Angel Portal contacted the leadership of the Medical Mission in the country; they reported having communicated with work teams across the 24 states where Cuban collaborators are stationed.

The professionals, the source noted, are safe, and many joined the relief efforts required by the public immediately following the tragedy.

The statement also emphasized that members of the Cuban Medical Mission in Venezuela reaffirm their commitment to the health and well-being of the people amidst the difficult situation facing that sister nation.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes in the country have left a toll of 164 dead and 971 injured.

Speaking to Venezolana de Television, acting official Delcy Rodriguez stated that she had been in direct contact throughout the early morning hours with the governor of La Guaira state, Alejandro Teran, and its mayor, Jose Manuel Suarez, as that region was among the areas declared disaster zones.

She detailed that a “number of buildings” had collapsed there and that search and rescue operations must be concentrated in that area.

Images shared on social media showed numerous buildings completely destroyed or with partial structural damage, including the Simon Bolivar International Airport, which suspended operations.

She noted that rescue workers from other states were deployed to La Guaira to support relief efforts, and that she had also spoken with authorities in Caracas, where 10 buildings collapsed.

jdt/ft/ifs