Colombian rescue team works in Venezuela with little sleep after earthquakes

The Colombian rescue team USAR COL-1 is engaged in challenging search and rescue operations in Venezuela following recent earthquakes, with volunteers enduring extreme fatigue. Team leader Diana Patricia Corrales reported that many members have been sleeping only two to three hours per day since their arrival.

Corrales explained that over 130 hours have passed since the seismic events, and despite the difficult conditions, the team is focused on rescuing survivors. "We have worked to try to rescue as many live victims as possible," she stated in an interview with Caracol Radio. The team operates in areas where temperatures reach 38 degrees Celsius, adding to the difficulty of working in rescue gear.

Despite the devastation, with many buildings reduced to rubble, the rescue efforts have not stopped. Corrales noted that the Venezuelan government, led by Delcy Rodríguez, has indicated that further search and rescue assistance is not required. However, she acknowledged the complexity of coordinating the numerous international teams present.

More than 20 nations have sent humanitarian aid and rescue groups to Venezuela. Official government figures report over 1,900 deaths and 10,000 injuries resulting from the earthquakes. The Venezuelan government, in collaboration with the United Nations, is managing the coordination of the international personnel involved in the search and recovery operations.