Queen Letizia is addressing the earthquakes in Venezuela. She used her appearance this morning at the Ortega-Marañón Foundation, where she presided over the 15th anniversary celebration of Ethic magazine, to share her thoughts on the two earthquakes that struck the country, which have so far left 164 dead and hundreds injured.
Queen Letizia's words on the Venezuela earthquakes
© AFP via Getty Images"The King is flying to Mexico right now, and naturally, like the rest of the citizens of this country, he and all of us are concerned and following the news after these two earthquakes in different parts of Venezuela, which have so far left a death toll that's expected to rise, along with all this devastation from the tragedy," said the Queen.
"Spain has already offered its help, and we're waiting for that full operation to get underway so we can assist in the coming weeks, which will be a huge challenge for rescuing anyone who may still be trapped. These next few hours are critical for continuing to search for survivors, and then there's the rebuilding afterward, which will be a major challenge in its own right."
The Royal House's message
© Carlos AlvarezMoments before Queen Letizia spoke to the press at Thursday's official event, the Royal Household had issued a statement. "Our full support goes out to the people of Venezuela following the tragedy caused by the two earthquakes that have struck the country," reads the message. "We want to convey our solidarity, our compassion, and our strength to all those injured and to the communities affected by this disaster. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time."
Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation also spoke about the issue, sharing the nation's concern over the natural disaster. "Spain extends its full solidarity and support to the Venezuelan people following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country yesterday."
"Our embassy and consulate in Caracas are fully operational, monitoring the situation and the wellbeing of Spanish residents in the country, and remain completely available to our community there. We're in contact with the authorities to assess needs, and we stand ready to send all necessary emergency aid."
The scale of the earthquakes
© Getty ImagesThe two earthquakes, which mainly struck La Guaira, near Caracas, had a magnitude of 7.2 and 7.5, shaking the northern area of Venezuela. Dozens of buildings have collapsed, with citizens and journalists documenting the damage and sharing it on social media.
"We can say that La Guaira state is facing a true tragedy, and it's now a disaster zone," said acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
Spain sends a rescue plane
Spain's Ministry of Defense will send a rescue plane to assist with debris-clearing operations, deploying an elite team specialized in urban search and rescue for trapped victims.
In addition, Telefónica, through its Movistar brand, has set up free calls so people can stay in touch with family and loved ones, and will provide SIM cards to anyone who needs to travel to Venezuela.
© AFP via Getty Images
