South Korea Considers Sending Disaster Relief Team to Venezuela

SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- The government is considering the dispatch of a disaster relief team to quake-devastated Venezuela, on top of an earlier pledge of humanitarian aid, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Park Il, the ministry's spokesperson, told a briefing that the government is "closely monitoring" the current situation in Venezuela, devastated by a series of strong earthquakes last week, as it weighs dispatching the team.

The powerful earthquakes have killed at least 1,719 people, injured roughly 5,000 and displaced about 12,000, according to Venezuelan authorities.

Over the weekend, Venezuela's government asked other nations to hold off on sending medical teams, saying emergency medical care for quake victims was nearly complete and that the country's focus had shifted to rebuilding damaged infrastructure.

In past overseas disasters, Park noted the government typically sent medical assistance teams rather than rescue units, given the distance involved and the narrow window for life-saving rescue work.

On Friday, South Korea's foreign ministry said it would channel US$5 million in humanitarian aid to the country through international organizations.

Separately, the ministry said it has received no reports of causalities among Korean nationals in Venezuela. However, an apartment unit, the Korean Embassy and the ambassador's residence all sustained damage. The embassy was hit hardest, and the residence is now serving as a temporary base for diplomatic operations.