Pratik AgrawalThe United States has sent more than 900 troops into Venezuela to assist with earthquake disaster relief. An additional 800 personnel are stationed in Puerto Rico and Curaçao as support hubs. A catastrophic double earthquake struck Venezuela on June 24, claiming nearly 2,000 lives.
The United States has deployed over 900 military personnel inside Venezuela to help with earthquake disaster relief. Another 800 service members are based in nearby Caribbean locations Puerto Rico and Curaçao. Reuters first reported this, citing U.S. Southern Command chief General Francis Donovan.
“The military has built a strong U.S. armed forces presence in and around Venezuela to support relief operations,” Donovan told the agency. He confirmed more than 900 personnel are active inside the country. Around 800 more are stationed at Caribbean support hubs in Puerto Rico and Curaçao.
Donovan also told Reuters that the U.S. is flying at least four MQ-9 Reaper drones inside Venezuela. He stressed that American troops will leave once their help is no longer needed. However, he noted that the U.S. stands ready to strengthen its military ties with Caracas going forward.
The disaster that triggered this response struck Venezuela on June 24. Two powerful earthquake sequences hit the country that day. The U.S. Geological Survey put the first quake’s magnitude at 7.2. The second was even stronger, measuring 7.5. Venezuelan authorities say the death toll has now climbed to 1,943 people.
The destruction has been sweeping. Hundreds of homes crumbled to rubble across the country. Critical infrastructure suffered heavy damage. Hospitals faced severe disruption. The country’s main international airport was forced to close.
More than 6,400 survivors have already been pulled from the debris by rescue teams. The scale of the relief effort continues to grow as the full extent of the damage becomes clear.
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