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3,000 international rescuers in Venezuela save 12 lives in six days
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

3,000 international rescuers in Venezuela save 12 lives in six days

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • International rescuers have saved 12 people alive in Venezuela over six days following a major double earthquake.
  • The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team is organizing the efforts of over 3,000 international rescuers.
  • While rescue operations continue, the focus will soon shift to recovering the deceased as international teams prepare to depart.

A significant international rescue operation in Venezuela has successfully saved 12 individuals trapped under rubble in the six days since a powerful double earthquake struck the nation. The efforts involve approximately 3,000 international rescuers, coordinated by the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team.

It is a very forceful international response to the request for assistance made by Venezuela.

— Sebastián MocarquerDescribing the international rescue efforts in Venezuela.

Sebastián Mocarquer of UNDAC described the operation as a "very forceful international response" to Venezuela's request for assistance. He explained that UNDAC's role is to provide organizational and assessment structures to bolster the response capacity, especially when dealing with the arrival of 53 search and rescue teams comprising 3,000 personnel. "When you receive 53 search and rescue teams, 3,000 people, you require a methodology, information management that has to be proven, that has to work quickly," Mocarquer stated.

When you receive 53 search and rescue teams, 3,000 people, you require a methodology, information management that has to be proven, that has to work quickly.

— Sebastián MocarquerExplaining the organizational challenges of coordinating a large international rescue operation.

Rescue teams typically have a working window of 5 to 10 days to find survivors in such disasters. However, Mocarquer noted that survival is possible beyond this period, depending on the collapse structure and climate conditions. In La Guaira, one of the most affected areas, temperatures can reach 34 degrees Celsius with 80% humidity, creating "very adverse conditions."

very adverse conditions

— Sebastián MocarquerReferring to the high temperatures and humidity in La Guaira.

Beyond the 12 confirmed rescues, a team of 100 rescuers is currently working in the Catia La Mar sector to save Hernán Gil, a security guard trapped in his post. Gil remains alive and in communication with the rescue team. Mocarquer cautioned that while there are still days left for operations, the time is finite. International teams will gradually return home, transitioning the recovery of deceased individuals to Venezuelan authorities due to equipment, legal, and forensic considerations. "These operations can take a very long time, far exceeding the capacity of international objectives to operate in the country," he emphasized.

These operations can take a very long time, far exceeding the capacity of international objectives to operate in the country.

— Sebastián MocarquerOn the transition from international rescue to national recovery efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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