The force of nature ultimately prevails over human affairs. A reminder lies in the two massive earthquakes that devastated parts of Venezuela and killed hundreds of people on Wednesday night. Also on display is the power of natural disasters to bridge differences and unite people against adversity. Within hours, Venezuela received offers of rescue teams and humanitarian aid from across the Americas, including from several governments that had broken off diplomatic relations with Caracas after rejecting an election result that handed former president Nicolas Maduro a third term.

That added momentum to a desperate rescue and salvage operation and, hopefully, will lead to an international effort to put the country back on its feet. The United States, which intervened militarily in Venezuela, has launched a large-scale humanitarian operation and pledged US$150 million to be shared between the United Nations and local aid groups.

Having toppled Maduro in January and abducted him to face charges of narcoterrorism and drug trafficking in New York, the US still maintains sanctions against Venezuela. It is important, therefore, that it takes a leading role in the rescue, relief and rebuilding effort. China, meanwhile, was quick to express sympathy to Venezuela and pledge appropriate aid.

Successive quakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude that struck the north of the country were the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century. Interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared a nationwide state of emergency and named the coastal state of La Guaira a disaster zone. It is feared an initial death toll in the hundreds will eventually total thousands.

Such a natural disaster would rock any nation to its core. In Venezuela, the quake compounds distressing issues for ordinary people, such as triple-digit inflation, power outages and low wages that barely cover basic food costs. Venezuela needs sustained, organised international aid to put it back on its feet and restore shattered lives. Having taken effective control of an economy with the world’s largest proven oil reserves and removed its leader, the US has a responsibility to do whatever it takes to put a recovery on track.