Indonesia ready to deploy rescue team to earthquake-hit Venezuela

..Basarnas is always ready if asked to assist in the evacuation of earthquake victims in Venezuela based on the decision of the central government,

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) is ready to deploy a team to assist in earthquake response efforts in Venezuela after the country declared a national emergency.

Basarnas Deputy for Operations, Edy Prakoso, stated in Jakarta on Thursday that the readiness to send a national search and rescue team to Venezuela will be carried out in accordance with instructions from the central government.

The Indonesian government has an international trained search and rescue team (INASAR), which includes Basarnas personnel.

INASAR is part of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) with medium-level INSARAG classification and experience in handling earthquake emergencies in countries such as Myanmar and Turkiye.

"Therefore, Basarnas is always ready if asked to assist in the evacuation of earthquake victims in Venezuela based on the decision of the central government," he said.

However, he explained that based on current monitoring by Basarnas, there has been no official request for international assistance from the affected country.

Basarnas has also not received information regarding the steps taken by the embassy of that country, whether it has sent an official letter to the Indonesian government requesting assistance.

"We have also directly contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Brazil to confirm whether any Indonesian citizens were affected by the disaster," Prakoso added.

On Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that two earthquakes measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela.

The epicenters were detected 16 kilometers from the city of Moron and 24 kilometers from San Felipe.

The Venezuelan government has officially declared a state of national emergency following the powerful earthquake that struck the country, according to Acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

"We are declaring a state of national emergency, as stipulated in our constitution," Rodriguez said in a video address on Wednesday evening local time.

She added that Venezuela's main airport, Maiquetia, was closed due to severe damage.

"Several areas were reported to be severely affected. In the capital, Caracas, buildings collapsed in various areas. The states of Miranda and La Guaira also suffered significant damage... as did the regions of Aragua, Carabobo, and Falcon," Rodriguez explained.

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Translator: Arie Novarina

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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