The Cuban healthcare workers on internationalist missions in Venezuela are safe and "providing all possible assistance to the Venezuelan people from the very beginning," after the country suffered two earthquakes on Wednesday, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, and several aftershocks.
This was reported by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, after a telephone conversation with the Cuban ambassador to Venezuela, Jorge Luis Mayo Fernández.
From the outset, the Cuban president conveyed, via social media, his "deepest condolences and full solidarity with the government and people of Venezuela for the terrible earthquakes that shook the center of the country this Wednesday. Cuban healthcare personnel are actively cooperating in the care of those affected."
He also assured that the authorities of the largest of the Antilles are "closely monitoring the situation of all Cubans who are currently there for any reason."
Díaz-Canel sent "a hug to our compatriots and to all of Venezuela in this difficult time. We are with you," he affirmed.
For her part, the acting president of the South American nation, Delcy Rodríguez, thanked, "on behalf of the people of Venezuela," "the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, for his words of solidarity and for always standing with Venezuela in such difficult times."
He also sent "a fraternal embrace to the Cuban people, who once again demonstrate that the brotherhood between our countries is based on solidarity."
For his part, Esteban Lazo Hernández, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, President of the National Assembly of People's Power and of the Council of State, reiterated "solidarity with the brotherly people of Venezuela, in the face of the victims and damage caused by the earthquakes. Deepest condolences to the families and other loved ones of the victims," he stated via the same social media platform.
According to information provided by Telesur, as of press time, approximately 200 deaths and more than 900 injuries had been reported during the two earthquakes. An estimated 140 aftershocks of lesser intensity were also recorded.
According to reports, the epicenters of the earthquakes were located in Carabobo and Yaracuy states and generated shockwaves felt in numerous states, including the Capital District.
Preliminary reports indicate that 250 buildings have been affected or lost, primarily in La Guaira state, where the worst situation is concentrated and which has been declared a disaster zone. There, collapsed buildings and isolated coastal communities have been reported.
Delcy Rodríguez declared a State of Emergency and immediately activated the Contingency General Staff. This institutional body includes the sectoral vice presidents Diosdado Cabello, Juan José Ramírez, Héctor Rodríguez, and Calixto Ortega and is tasked with addressing and managing the situation created by the earthquakes across the country, reported the VTV channel.
He also announced three key measures: a request to private companies for debris removal machinery, the creation of a $200 million fund for assistance, and special lines of credit for affected businesses.
To date, state security forces remain deployed in various parts of the country conducting rescue operations to assist the population and repair damaged infrastructure.
In this regard, the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, stated: "This is the time to save lives, to rescue people, to assist those trapped under the rubble of all the damaged buildings."
