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United States military personnel have arrived in earthquake-hit Venezuela to help expand airport capacity and reopen a key seaport as international relief efforts gather pace.
The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said on Sunday that Simon Bolivar International Airport, which serves the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, partially reopened on Saturday after sustaining damage during Wednesday’s twin earthquakes.
According to SOUTHCOM, about 100 US Air Force personnel with airfield management expertise and specialised equipment arrived on Sunday to help local authorities increase the flow of inbound and outbound flights.
The command also said about 130 US Marines would arrive at the badly affected port of La Guaira within 24 hours to help reopen the facility and enable relief supplies and equipment to reach the worst-hit areas by sea.
The disaster has claimed at least 1,450 lives, while tens of thousands of people remain missing as rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale delivered relief supplies to La Guaira on Sunday using a landing craft.
The US military has also deployed cargo aircraft and helicopters to support recovery operations. A US Air Force C-130 Hercules is transporting personnel and equipment, while US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys are delivering personnel and humanitarian supplies.
US Marine UH-1Y Venom helicopters assigned to the USS Fort Lauderdale are assisting with aerial assessments of the earthquake-affected areas.
Earlier, the US State Department deployed a disaster response team of more than 250 personnel, including three specialist search-and-rescue units with trained dogs, to assist in locating survivors.
Last week, the United States also announced 150 million dollars in humanitarian aid for Venezuela.
