US military arrives in Venezuela to reinforce rescues after earthquakes

A video published by SOUTHCOM (US Southern Command) this Sunday (28) shows American military personnel arriving in Venezuela to provide support in search and rescue operations following the earthquakes that hit the country last Wednesday (24).

According to the publication, Marines disembark to participate in humanitarian assistance efforts led by the US State Department in support of Venezuelan authorities.

In an update released this Sunday (28), the command reported that a Contingency Response Element is already in Venezuela to assist the country's government and aviation authorities in expanding the operational capacity of Simón Bolívar International Airport, facilitating the arrival and departure of humanitarian flights.

Also according to SOUTHCOM, American military aircraft continue to carry out air transport missions to support relief operations.

The command also announced that approximately 130 US Marines are expected to arrive at the Port of La Guaira within the next 24 hours to help reopen the structure, which was closed after the earthquakes. The expectation is that the port will once again receive supplies and equipment destined for the most affected regions.

"USA... thank you."

A video from a Venezuelan citizen of U.S. Marines arriving at a site to assist search and rescue efforts.

At the direction of #SOUTHCOM, assigned U.S. military forces are supporting @StateDept-led U.S. disaster assistance to the people of Venezuela in the... pic.twitter.com/wjmw0KI254

- U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) June 28, 2026

Since the earthquakes, teams from different countries have mobilized to help search for survivors and send humanitarian aid to Venezuela.

Earthquakes left more than 1,400 dead
The rescue comes as international teams continue to search for survivors after the strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that hit Venezuela.

According to the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, the death toll reached 1,450, while 3,150 people were injured and 12,721 were left homeless.

Since Wednesday, the country has recorded 430 aftershocks, with La Guaira concentrating most of the destruction.

More than 1,600 rescuers from different nations have already arrived in the country to reinforce search and rescue operations. Teams from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, United States, Spain, Switzerland, Ecuador, Chile, Dominican Republic, Panama and El Salvador participate in the work.

(With information from Mauricio Torres, from CNN in Spanish)

Understand how the strength of earthquakes is measured

Source: CNN