'My quake appeal snowballed - now I just need a plane'

A woman has appealed for an aircraft to fly more than 30 tonnes of aid to Venezuela to help victims of June's devastating earthquakes.

Karolin De Sousa has collected a tonne of medical supplies, camping equipment and other items in Bournemouth, Dorset, and is liaising with other collection centres around the UK.

The former doctor in Venezuela said: "The UK has responded beyond anything we imagined.

"I need someone with an airplane... Otherwise we will have to pay for it and we will if we need to."

The official death toll from the disaster has passed 3,500, according to an update from Venezuelan authorities on Monday.

Buildings were destroyed in areas including the capital Caracas and the nearby coastal city of La Guaira, leaving an estimated 18,000 people homeless.

De Sousa said she feared for family and friends when she first heard of the twin quakes, which struck within seconds of each other on 24 June.

"My immediate reaction was call them, hoping for them to answer," she said.

"Thankfully they did, but what they have lived since then is like a horror movie. The devastation is ongoing."

De Sousa said she began by donating money to aid charities, but soon felt she needed to do more.

She set up collection points in the Bournemouth area, including at The Uncle Will, a Venezuelan restaurant.

On 26 June, she launched an online appeal for a means to export the goods but has been unsuccessful so far.

"We urgently need help to fly this to Venezuela as soon as possible," she said.

"I need someone with an airplane, someone who can offer cargo, or someone who can offer a connection.

"People have been absolutely generous and amazing - the response of the entire community, not only Venezuelans."

A separate appeal for aid has been launched by the Disasters Emergency Committee on behalf of 15 UK aid charities.