A Maidenhead woman has launched an appeal for aid supplies to send to Venezuela after two earthquakes left the country facing a humanitarian disaster.

Maura del Carmen Rosales de Ortigosa, 63, said it was ‘heartbreaking to see a tragedy of this magnitude affect my country’ and she ‘felt I had to do something to help’.

The death toll continues to rise following two devastating earthquakes in Venezuela late last month, with 2,295 fatalities recorded as of Thursday (July 2) and more than 11,000 people injured.

Ms Rosales de Ortigosa said: “This appeal is my way of supporting those who need it most during this difficult time.”

Ms Rosales de Ortigosa and her family, who live in Maidenhead and the Berkshire area, are from the town of San Juan de Colón, close to the Colombian border.

She has spoken to relatives still living in Venezuela, who are safe but ‘deeply shocked’.

“The situation is extremely difficult,” she added.

“The country is facing a humanitarian emergency, and the scale of the disaster has put enormous pressure on emergency services and aid organisations.

“Although the international response, including support from the UK, has been incredible, the devastation is so widespread that the needs remain overwhelming.”

Two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck within seconds of each other at about 6pm on Wednesday, June 24.

Powerful tremors caused buildings to collapse, trapping people beneath the rubble and sparking a rescue effort that remains ongoing and continues to find survivors.

The epicentres were close to the South American nation’s capital, Caracas.

A United Nations press briefing on Monday (June 29) said the death toll would ‘unavoidably’ continue to rise as rescue efforts continue.

Ms Rosales de Ortigosa said: “It is heartbreaking to see a tragedy of this magnitude affect my home country.

“So many people have lost loved ones, entire families have disappeared, many others have been injured, and countless people have been left without homes.

“Even though I am far away, I felt I had to do something to help.”

Aid appeals have begun across the world, and Ms Rosales de Ortigosa is donating one organised by LatinoLife UK.

Ms Rosales de Ortigosa said she had promoted the appeal on social media and that the response had been ‘very positive’, with people being ‘very kind and supportive’.

She added: “Unfortunately, my local network is limited, but I am grateful for every single donation we have received.”

So far, she has collected around one and a half boxes of medicines, baby clothes, nappies and non-perishable food needed as the humanitarian relief effort gets underway.

But more donations are needed before Ms Rosales de Ortigosa delivers the supplies on Sunday (July 5), when they will be transported to Venezuela.

Each donated item will have its barcode covered being shipped and marked ‘not for resale’.

Anyone wishing to help can contact mauraforvenezuela@hotmail.com.