Argentina Sends Consular Mission to Venezuela After Earthquakes, Confirms Six Deaths

Argentina has dispatched a humanitarian consular mission to Venezuela to provide assistance to its citizens impacted by the devastating earthquakes that struck the country. The mission, comprising two officials who arrived on Saturday, is tasked with identifying the needs of the Argentine community, documenting citizens, and offering support to families searching for missing persons, tending to the injured, and aiding relatives of those who have died.

Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno stated that the consular officials have already made contact with individuals who reported missing family members or requested assistance in locating them. They are also reaching out to elderly citizens receiving aid from Cáritas Venezuela and plan to visit detained Argentine citizens. As of Sunday, six Argentines have been confirmed deceased, one is hospitalized, and seven requests for locating missing persons have been received.

The deployment of this consular team comes nearly two years after Argentina expelled its diplomatic staff from Caracas and severed diplomatic ties. This action followed accusations of electoral fraud by the Javier Milei government after Venezuela's presidential elections in July 2024. In addition to the consular mission, Argentina sent a 24-person search and rescue team on Friday, including military and civilian personnel. The Ministry of Defense also announced plans to send a second team of medical professionals and engineers to prepare water purification plants for affected communities.

Argentina's aid efforts are part of a broader international response to the earthquakes, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. The tremors primarily affected the state of La Guaira and other regions, including the capital, Caracas. The earthquakes have resulted in at least 1,450 deaths and 3,150 injuries. Additionally, 774 buildings have been damaged or collapsed, with 189 suffering total destruction and 585 sustaining partial damage.