THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Thursday that there are no reports so far of any Filipino national being injured or killed following the powerful twin earthquakes that shook Venezuela.
In its latest advisory, the DFA said it is closely tracking developments on the ground through the Philippine Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, which has consular jurisdiction over Venezuela. The embassy has already established direct contact with Filipino communities in key affected areas, including the capital Caracas and the city of Barinas.
“As of this writing, no reports of injuries or casualties have been received from Filipino nationals in Venezuela,” the DFA stated.
The two major quakes — measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 — struck within less than a minute of each other on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremors triggered widespread damage across Venezuela, prompting the government to declare a national state of emergency.
The DFA added that Filipinos in the country have been advised to move to open, safe spaces, stay indoors if possible, and monitor official local news and emergency alerts. The embassy remains on standby to provide assistance and will issue further updates as the situation evolves.
