Strong earthquakes hit Venezuela as buildings collapse in Caracas – follow live
US and Latin American countries pledge assistancepublished at 04:31 BST
The US will dispatch search and rescue teams and medical and humanitarian supplies to Venezuela, says Jeremy Lewin, Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance.
The State Department has a disaster assistance team that’s working with partners in the interim Venezuelan government, he says.
Countries in Latin America have also offered assistance.
El Salvador president Nayib Bukele says his country has prepared 50 tonnes of equipment and supplies, as well as 300 rescuers who are “ready to depart for Caracas”.
Ecuador, too, has arranged aid to be sent immediately to Venezuela, says its President Daniel Noboa Azin.
Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said his country will assess what measures of assistance it can adopt to support its “sister nation”.