The British government has called for an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council following a catastrophic earthquake in Venezuela that has claimed an estimated 5,000 lives, with thousands more injured or missing. The tremor, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck the coastal state of Falcón early this morning, levelling entire towns and triggering a humanitarian crisis.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described the situation as “a national tragedy of immense proportions” and urged the international community to mobilise immediate aid and rescue efforts. The UK’s permanent representative to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, is expected to table a resolution calling for a coordinated relief operation and the unimpeded delivery of supplies. Venezuela’s government, already weakened by years of economic collapse and political instability, has declared a state of emergency and appealed for international assistance.
Rescue teams from neighbouring Colombia and Brazil have begun arriving, but efforts are hampered by damaged infrastructure and fuel shortages. The earthquake has reignited concerns about the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity, with experts warning that aftershocks could further complicate rescue operations. The UN Security Council is likely to meet within 48 hours, though Russia and China have yet to signal their positions on the proposed resolution.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations are bracing for a protracted crisis, with the death toll expected to rise as responders reach remote communities.
