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Britain’s King Charles has said he and Queen Camilla were “deeply saddened” by the earthquakes which struck Venezuela on Wednesday, leaving nearly 1,000 people dead.<\/p>\n
In a message published on Friday night and addressed to “the people of Venezuela”, Charles said: “My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the devastating earthquakes that have struck your country, and of the tragic loss of life and suffering they have caused.<\/p>\n
“At this most difficult of times, we send our profound sympathy to all those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.<\/p>\n
“Our special thoughts are with the injured, those awaiting news of family and friends, and the emergency responders working tirelessly to support those in desperate need.<\/p>\n
“We greatly admire the resilience and strength of the Venezuelan people and send our most heartfelt condolences to all those affected by this terrible tragedy.”<\/p>\n
Wednesday’s 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes were among the strongest to hit Venezuela for more than a century and could be felt throughout the region.<\/p>\n
Local authorities have reported 920 people died and 3,360 were injured in the earthquakes, with the toll expected to continue rising.<\/p>\n
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “My thoughts are with the people of Venezuela following this week’s devastating earthquakes.<\/p>\n
“The UK stands in solidarity with all those affected, particularly those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.”<\/p>\n
A British search and rescue team provided by UK International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) – which responds to disasters on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – has been deployed to the South American country on Friday.<\/p>\n
The 68-strong team, made up of personnel from fire brigades across the country, left RAF Brize Norton along with six specialist search dogs and humanitarian staff.<\/p>\n
As well as the UKISAR team, Britain has dispatched members of the UK Emergency Medical Team to prepare for a further medical deployment.<\/p>\n
The Government has also made \u00a32 million ($2.6 million) of humanitarian funding available to help respond to the disaster.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office confirmed that UK staff were all safe and accounted for after the British embassy in Caracas was damaged in the earthquakes.<\/p>\n
The embassy – which is on the 11th floor of an office tower in the north-east of the city – has been closed, but alternative arrangements have been put in place to assist British nationals in the country.<\/p>\n
The number of British citizens in Venezuela is understood to be in the low hundreds and there have been no reports of Britons killed or injured, it is understood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n