British specialist search and rescue teams have been sent to Venezuela, where the death toll from two massive earthquakes on Wednesday has neared 1,000.

A Royal Air Force plane carrying 68 personnel and equipment including sniffer dogs and drones took off from Brize Norton airbase on Friday evening to join an international rescue operation.

The British government announced £2m of humanitarian funding for Venezuela, where tens of thousands of people have been displaced by twin earthquakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, which struck seconds apart.

The epicentre of the deadly quakes was around 100 miles (160km) west of the capital Caracas.

Hundreds of aid workers have arrived or are travelling to the South American country to join the search for survivors.

Hospitals in the worst hit areas have been overwhelmed with a shortage of critical supplies.

A website where people can register their loved ones as missing recorded more than 52,000 people as being uncontactable as of 21:00 BST on Friday.

The UK rescue team brings together firefighters and specialists from around the UK, and is coordinated by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, with backing from the RAF.

Humanitarian, medical and security specialists have also joined the deployment.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “My thoughts are with the people of Venezuela following this week’s devastating earthquakes.

“The UK stands in solidarity with all those affected, particularly those who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.”

On Friday, Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said there had been 215 aftershocks recorded since the earthquakes.

A state of emergency has been declared, while airport, rail and transport services have been halted.

Buildings were levelled by the earthquakes and there has been huge demand for aid supplies among those left homeless.