Chinese Venezuelan merchants mobilize relief after deadly earthquakes

In the wake of the most devastating earthquakes Venezuela has experienced in decades, Chinese Venezuelan merchants nationwide mobilized their shops, warehouses, and community resources to aid in relief efforts. Lutao Cen, a businessman of Chinese Venezuelan descent, discovered the calamity upon returning to shore, as his WeChat was inundated with messages from friends in Caracas, Valencia, and Maracay detailing the destruction of buildings and streets filled with dust. A close associate in La Guaira, who leads the local Chinese association, sustained severe injuries when his store collapsed, resulting in the deaths of three workers and his 13-year-old daughter. Cen collaborated with volunteers on Margarita Island as trucks loaded with food, water, and other essential supplies prepared to depart for the impacted areas.