President Laura Fernández announced Thursday that Costa Rica will send specialized rescue teams and humanitarian aid to Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes that struck the South American nation.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck at approximately 6:04 p.m. local time Thursday. The epicenter was located about 16 miles from the city of San Felipe in Venezuela's Yaracuy state. Less than a minute later, a second and even stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck about 19 miles from the same city.

Fernández spoke by phone with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, expressing the solidarity of the Costa Rican people and reaffirming Costa Rica's commitment to assist the country during the emergency.

"I am coordinating with Costa Rica's rescue teams and the National Emergency Commission to send humanitarian aid and specialized rescue personnel as quickly as possible," Fernández said during the call.

In addition to deploying rescue specialists, Fernández confirmed that Costa Rica will soon send a shipment of nonperishable food to Venezuela.

Thanking Costa Rica for its support, Rodríguez said, "Venezuela is going through extremely difficult hours. We were struck by two earthquakes in rapid succession, making this an unprecedented catastrophe in our nation's history."

Costa Rica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced Thursday that no Costa Rican citizens were injured or killed in the earthquakes.

Authorities urged Costa Rican citizens living in Venezuela who wish to leave the country to contact the Consulate General of Costa Rica in Colombia at +57 313 841 3850 or the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in San José at (506) 2359-5360.

On Thursday, Costa Rica also expressed its "deepest solidarity" with the Venezuelan people as they cope with the aftermath of the disaster.

The humanitarian assistance comes despite ongoing geopolitical differences between the two countries. In January, amid uncertainty surrounding Venezuela's political situation following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, during a U.S. military operation in Caracas, Costa Rica advised its citizens to avoid traveling to the South American nation.

Rodríguez, who has led the country since Maduro was captured, declared a nationwide state of emergency and extended condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the disaster.


As of Friday morning, more than 900 people had been killed and more than 3,000 others injured in the earthquakes, according to the Venezuelan government.

The coastal state of La Guaira, north of the capital, has been the hardest-hit region, according to the government's official press office. The state is home to one of Venezuela's two principal seaports and Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the country's main international gateway.

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