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Miami highlights firefighters for rescuing Venezuelan after 8 days under rubble
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Miami highlights firefighters for rescuing Venezuelan after 8 days under rubble

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Miami firefighters are being honored for their role in rescuing a Venezuelan man trapped for eight days under rubble following recent earthquakes.
  • The rescue involved the USAR Florida Task Force 2, working alongside international teams for 53 hours to save Hernán Gil from a collapsed building in La Guaira.
  • The United States has provided significant aid to Venezuela, including over $300 million in assistance and 2,000 military personnel, with US officials highlighting their leading role in international relief efforts.

Miami's Fire Department and Rescue unit is receiving accolades for its critical role in the dramatic rescue of Hernán Gil, a Venezuelan national. Gil was trapped for eight days beneath the debris of a collapsed building in La Guaira following powerful earthquakes that recently struck Venezuela.

Mayor Eileen Higgins of Miami praised the department's leadership of the USAR Florida Task Force 2 (FL-TF2). This specialized team, comprising firefighters from South Florida, worked tirelessly for 53 hours alongside international brigades. Their mission was to reach Gil, who was trapped in a guard booth where he worked at the time of the disaster.

"Today, all of Miami has reason to be proud," Mayor Higgins stated. She emphasized that the American contingent, led by Miami's firefighters, joined rescue teams from around the globe in Venezuela with a singular, shared objective: saving a life. The collaborative effort highlights a unified international response to the devastating earthquakes.

Today, all of Miami has reason to be proud. The American contingent led by the brave men and women of Miami Fire and Rescue, joined rescue teams from around the world in Venezuela with a shared mission: to save a life.

— Eileen HigginsMiami Mayor Eileen Higgins praising the city's firefighters and the international rescue effort for saving Hernán Gil.

Gil remained in constant communication with the rescue teams, who provided him with hydration and medication during the arduous 53-hour operation. The FL-TF2, consisting of 80 personnel, is part of a larger US aid package to Venezuela. This includes over $300 million in assistance and 2,000 personnel from the Department of Defense, according to information from the US Southern Command and the State Department.

John M. Barrett, the US Chargé d'Affaires in Caracas, affirmed that the United States is "leading" the international aid efforts in Venezuela. The earthquakes have resulted in at least 2,295 fatalities and over 11,000 injuries, according to the latest official reports.

The United States 'leads' international aid in Venezuela.

— John M. BarrettUS Chargé d'Affaires in Caracas John M. Barrett on the US role in relief 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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