King Charles has received widespread praise after he and Queen Camilla joined the British public in contributing to humanitarian relief efforts for victims of the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) confirmed that His Majesty and the UK public have together raised more than £10 million to support emergency aid operations in the South American nation . The devastating quakes, which struck less than a minute apart with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, have killed more than 3,500 people and injured over 16,000 others .

The DEC expressed profound gratitude for the royal family's involvement and the extraordinary generosity of the British people. The funds will support DEC charities and their trusted local partners in delivering emergency medical care, food, clean drinking water, and shelter to affected families .

The disaster has left thousands homeless, with approximately 96,000 buildings damaged or destroyed across multiple states . La Guaira state, north of the capital Caracas, has been identified as one of the hardest-hit areas .

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, expressed deep appreciation for the King and Queen's donation, highlighting their ongoing commitment to addressing urgent humanitarian crises worldwide . Saeed is scheduled to travel to Venezuela to witness firsthand how aid is being distributed to survivors .

Earlier, King Charles issued an emotional message to the Venezuelan people, expressing profound sympathy for those who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods . "Our special thoughts are with the injured, those awaiting news of family and friends, and the emergency responders working tirelessly to support those in desperate need," the monarch said .

The UK government has deployed a 68-member search and rescue team, including six specialist search dogs and humanitarian personnel, to assist in ongoing rescue operations . The team, comprising personnel from fire brigades across Britain, departed from RAF Brize Norton to support international relief efforts .

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the UK stands in solidarity with Venezuela during this devastating crisis . With tens of thousands of people still reported missing, rescue teams continue working around the clock to locate survivors and provide emergency assistance .