Dominican Republic evacuates 31 more nationals from Venezuela after earthquakes

The Dominican Republic has evacuated an additional 31 nationals from Venezuela in the wake of a powerful double earthquake that struck the region. The latest group, comprising six citizens, thirteen national volleyball team athletes, and twelve young baseball players, arrived via three air operations coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense.

These recent repatriations, conducted under "Operación Quisqueya Solidaria 2026," bring the total number of Dominicans brought back from Venezuela to 42. The operation involves a team of disaster experts who arrived in Venezuela on Thursday to assist affected residents.

The Dominican government had previously announced a humanitarian flight to facilitate the return of its citizens impacted by the devastating earthquakes. This flight, with a capacity for 90 passengers, was scheduled to depart from Valencia's Arturo Michelena International Airport and arrive in Santo Domingo. The initiative was ordered by President Luis Abinader to provide support to Dominicans residing in Venezuela who were affected by the seismic events.

The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, have resulted in a significant number of casualties and displaced families. Official figures indicate 1,430 deaths, 3,238 injuries, and 3,142 families affected by the disaster.