Helping Venezuela: USS San Antonio serves at Port of La Guaira

The U.S. Southern Command shared this photo on Thursday of the USS San Antonio arriving at Venezuela’s Port of La Guaira.

DORAL, Fla. — The U.S. Southern Command announced on Thursday that the USS San Antonio had arrived at Venezuela’s Port of La Guaira “to support relief operations.”

The U.S. Navy’s amphibious transport dock based in Virginia joined the USS Fort Lauderdale, which arrived pierside in La Guaira on June 28.

While aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale, Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the SouthCom commander, met with U.S. Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the U.S. Marines announced on Thursday on X.

“U.S. forces at the port are operating a communications and distribution node to deliver life-saving assistance to hard-hit areas,” a SouthCom spokesperson wrote on X.

It has been 15 days since the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck in northern Venezuela, causing widespread destruction in the state of La Guaira.

Venezuelan officials reported the death toll was at 3,811, there were about 190 buildings destroyed, some 855 buildings damaged, and 18,000 people displaced.

More on Helping Venezuela

Venezuela Earthquake A young man sleeps as rescue workers continue searching through the rubble after the earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

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APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Coffins are stacked at the seaport where forensic workers sort the bodies of earthquake victims in La Guaira, Venezuela, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Khaterine Roa cries as members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department search for survivors at a building that collapsed during the earthquakes that struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Matias Delacroix/AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuela Earthquake A man sits amid earthquake rubble in La Guaira, Venezuela, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Matias Delacroix/AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
VENEZUELA A helicopter flies over a search and rescue team at work on Saturday in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
AMS-GEN VENEZUELA-SISMOS Residentes y rescatistas buscan entre los escombros dos días después de los sismos que sacudieron La Guaira, Venezuela, el 26 de junio de 2026. (AP Foto/Matías Delacroix) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Matias Delacroix/AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers search through the rubble three days after earthquakes struck Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Venezuela Earthquake Residents and rescue workers search through the rubble two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Pablo Arraez) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Juan Pablo Arraez/AP Photo/Juan Pablo Arraez)
Venezuela Survivors walk on Friday near a toy that was abandoned in the rubble of an apartment building in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. (AP Foto/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers aid Daniel Cordero after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Venezuela Earthquake Venezuelan Police searches through the rubble two days after earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers place Daniel Cordero on a stretcher after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara/AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Venezuela Earthquake Members of a religious organization distribute food to people affected two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

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About The Author
Andrea Torres

Andrea Torres

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.