A second tremor has ripped through Venezuela's coastal region. The aftershock, measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, struck near Cumaná at dawn. Thousands are now homeless. Makeshift camps line the streets.
Downing Street is scrambling. The Royal Navy's HMS Medway is being diverted from Caribbean patrols. It carries water purification kits and modular shelters. Defence sources say a full task force could follow.
This is a political minefield. Venezuela's Maduro regime has been slow to accept aid. Sources in the Foreign Office say the offer was made through backchannels hours ago. No official response yet.
Labour is pushing for a Commons statement. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey is demanding clarity on the mission's scope. "This cannot become a quagmire," he briefed journalists.
Inside Number 10, there is calculation. A successful humanitarian mission could boost the PM's ratings. But memories of Iraq linger. One cabinet minister told me: "We must not be seen as gunboat diplomacy."
The RAF is also on standby. A C-17 Globemaster is being loaded with medical supplies at Brize Norton. Military planners are watching the weather. Hurricane season is weeks away.
For now, the focus is on the ground. The British Embassy in Caracas is coordinating with local NGOs. Our man there says the situation is "dire but stabilising."
Westminster is holding its breath. This could define the government's foreign policy legacy. I'll have more as it breaks.
