Chinese businesses in Venezuela have joined front-line rescue efforts under the coordination of the Chinese embassy, with the China-Venezuela Chamber of Commerce mobilizing Chinese-funded enterprises to support the operation.
A pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 920 people and trapping many under the rubble, as rescuers searched through collapsed buildings to find survivors and international support poured in for the disaster-hit South American country.
The quakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, hit central Venezuela less than a minute apart, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Jiang Wangbing, chairman of the China-Venezuela Chamber of Commerce, has been on the front line of the rescue efforts. He gave a briefing on the ongoing operations.
"The embassy has been playing a coordinating role in the ongoing rescue efforts, while we have been mobilizing Chinese-funded enterprises to join the operation. Everyone is giving their full support, contributing manpower, resources, and equipment wherever possible. Yesterday, we spent about 24 hours working in a district of El Paraiso and managed to rescue five people. Today, we have moved on to a second and a third site. Take the building for example. It is right across from us that is currently being rescued. It was originally seven stories tall, but now only two remain standing," said Jiang Wangbing, chairman of China-Venezuela Chamber of Commerce. Jiang also gave an update on Chinese businesses in the quake-hit areas and plans moving forward.
"All Chinese enterprises are safe. We reported to the embassy immediately after the incident, and the embassy also reached out to us at the earliest time. My next priority is to coordinate with the embassy's overall arrangements and dispatch," said Jiang.
Chinese businesses aid rescue efforts after Venezuela quakes
