Madeira expresses solidarity after Venezuela earthquakes

The Madeiran government says it is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes killed at least 32 people and injured more than 700, amid concerns for the country’s large Madeiran community.

Regional premier Miguel Albuquerque expressed “deep solidarity” with the Venezuelan people following the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, which struck just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday evening.

“In light of the two powerful earthquakes that have struck Venezuela in recent hours, causing extensive material damage and affecting countless families, the Regional Government of Madeira expresses its deepest solidarity with the Venezuelan people, particularly the communities hardest hit by this tragedy,” Albuquerque said in a statement.

He said the regional government was following developments “with great concern” and extended its condolences to the families of those killed, while wishing a swift recovery to the injured and displaced.

Albuquerque highlighted Madeira’s long-standing historical, cultural and human ties with Venezuela, which is home to a large community of Madeiran emigrants and their descendants.

The regional premier also praised the work of the Venezuelan authorities, emergency services, healthcare professionals and volunteers responding to the disaster, expressing hope that “the solidarity, unity and determination of the Venezuelan people” would help the country overcome the tragedy with international support.

According to Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, the northern coastal state of La Guaira, near the capital Caracas, appears to have suffered the greatest damage and has been declared a disaster zone.

Rodríguez warned the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.

Source: Lusa

Inês Lopes

Newspaper editor at The Portugal Resident