MFAT issues SafeTravel messaging to New Zealanders in Venezuela after earthquakes

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says it's issued SafeTravel messaging to two New Zealanders registered as being in Venezuela when two powerful earthquakes hit.

Venezuelan authorities had confirmed 188 deaths from the twin magnitude seven quakes that struck on Wednesday evening, local time, in the country's north.

Thousands were missing and the government warned the death toll could rise.

A state of emergency was declared and more than 1500 people had been injured as buildings collapsed in the worst affect area, La Guaira, and in the capital, Caracas.

In a statement, an MFAT spokesperson said it was "closely monitoring the impacts" of the two significant earthquakes, but had not received any requests for consular assistance.

They said New Zealanders in Venezuela should follow the advice of local authorities, register on Safe Travel, and let family and friends know they're safe when they're able to.

"New Zealanders who require urgent consular assistance can contact the 24/7 consular emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20," the spokesperson said.

Several countries and organisations had sent teams or pledged to help with the rescue and disaster response efforts.

MFAT said New Zealand was considering how it could support the response to the earthquakes.

"New Zealand expects international humanitarian organisations to launch funding appeals to support response efforts. We will consider how New Zealand can support the response through these mechanisms."

'We need your prayers right now'

A World Vision staffer from Venezuela said rescue teams and medical supplies were urgently needed to free people still trapped under rubble.

World Vision's institutional relations manager in Venezuela, Claudia Gonzalez Pacheco, was based in Caracas but was in Panama for an event when the earthquakes struck.

La Guaira State had a coastal area, that home to the main airport for Caracas, she said.

"Around 80 buildings are down with people inside their houses, that's just in La Guaira. There's a hotel near the airport, that went down as well," Gonzalez Pacheco said.

"Neighbours are saying they've heard voices since yesterday from people that might be alive and in danger inside those collapsed buildings.

"We are praying they can be freed as soon as possible," she said.

The state also had very poor areas, and government buildings that were ten to 15 years old were among those that had been destroyed, Gonzalez Pacheco said.

The news was getting worse by the hour, as contact was made with more areas in the state which was experiencing a lot of electricity and communications outages, she said.

People were struggling to get good medical care before the disaster, with high rates of malaria in some states, and staff and supply shortages.

"We don't have a strong health system in our country and there are people going everywhere looking for medical assistance, looking for medicine," she said.

Venezuela had been "in red numbers" for more than 20 years, Gonzalez Pacheco said, and one of the indicators worrying World Vision before the disaster was malnutrition in infants and kids.

"This is a critical situation. We need the resources to start helping the Venezuelans inside Venezuela."

Gonzalez Pacheco said it was hoped international medical teams and aid would start to reach affected people on the ground in the next 12 hours.

Some shelters had opened after people spent a night sleeping on the street, but already they were crowded, she said.

Essentials like water, clothes and electricity were also needed.

"Pray for Venezuela, for the children in Venezuela. We need your prayers right now," Gonzalez Pacheco said.

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