"I am now preparing a new mission, perhaps in September or October, I don't have a precise date yet. I will be in contact with the Venezuelan authorities to provide support in the reconstruction of the country in sectors that prove to be most in need," he said.

Emídio Sousa was speaking to journalists in Funchal, on the sidelines of the opening session of the Madeira Global Forum, a meeting that includes the participation of more than 450 speakers from Madeiran communities spread across various countries around the world.

The Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities specified that the new support to Venezuela will be carried out through companies, as part of the reconstruction work in the most affected areas.

"I also expect the Venezuelan authorities to indicate which sectors are priorities, although I have little doubt that the housing sector, housing reconstruction, will be one of the top priorities," he said.

Emídio Sousa indicated, on the other hand, that the government will now "deepen" the way companies that become involved in the process are financed.

"This is one of the aspects that I will have to delve into, because companies, normally, when they go to work, have to be paid for the respective work," he said.

Earthquakes registered in Venezuela on 24 June caused at least 5,398 deaths and 16,740 injuries, according to the most recent official count.

Among the dead, there are at least 130 Portuguese and people of Portuguese descent, and another 31 are missing.

Several countries, including Portugal and other European Union states, have sent search and rescue teams to Venezuela.

Earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 occurred 200 kilometres from Caracas, less than a minute apart, and were followed by hundreds of aftershocks, according to the United States Geological Survey.