Vietnam rescue team recovers 11 earthquake victims in Venezuela

The team conducted search and rescue operations from 5:30 am to 8:00 pm (local time) on Tuesday in the Playa Grande area of Catia La Mar Parish, according to a report by Border Guard Intermediate School No. 24.

The operation was divided into five teams, each comprising two search dogs, five military engineers, and five military medical personnel.

By about 8:00 pm (local time) on Tuesday, the search dogs had identified and marked nine locations where victims were believed to be trapped.

Based on those findings, military engineers and supporting rescue personnel excavated seven of the sites and recovered 11 bodies, which were handed over to local authorities.

Excavation was continuing at the remaining two locations.

The Vietnamese rescue team coordinated with local responders to search an area of about 2.2 square kilometers.

The report said all personnel, handlers, and search dogs remained safe and in good health.

Daytime temperatures at the site were about 29 degrees Celsius, falling to around 21 degrees at night.

Two magnitude-7.2 and magnitude-7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela seconds apart on June 24, causing devastating casualties and widespread property damage, with La Guaira being the hardest-hit state in the country.

According to Venezuela’s government, at least 1,943 people were killed in the quakes, which flattened or damaged some 59,000 buildings, injuring thousands and leaving about 16,000 homeless, Reuters reported, citing NASA estimates.

The widespread devastation can be seen from space.

Vietnam on Sunday deployed a 124-member rescue contingent from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, along with 10 search dogs and dozens of tonnes of relief supplies, to assist Venezuela’s earthquake response.