A day after two back-to-back earthquakes — magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 — devastated parts of Venezuela, the Caribbean Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement of solidarity and hope for the Venezuelan people.
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“We are deeply saddened by the recent earthquake that has affected Venezuela, causing moments of uncertainty and concern for many people and families,” Elder Valeri V. Cordón, Elder Hugo Montoya and Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt of the Caribbean Area Presidency wrote in a statement published on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
“We express our sincere support, solidarity and prayers for all those who have been affected.”
The pair of powerful earthquakes struck Wednesday evening in northern Venezuela, killing at least 164 people and injuring nearly 1,000, The Associated Press has reported.
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They were among the most powerful in Venezuela in more than a century and could be felt across the region.
In their statement, the leaders — all General Authority Seventies living in the church’s Caribbean Area — said they unite with the Venezuelan people “in the hope that they will find strength, peace and comfort” in these times.
“We pray that hope, unity and a spirit of service prevail,” they wrote, “and that the affected communities find support and strength in the midst of adversity.”
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