Spanish field hospital opens in Caracas to aid earthquake victims

A field hospital established by Spanish cooperation has commenced operations in Caracas, Venezuela, offering crucial medical assistance to victims of a devastating double earthquake.

The facility, located in a park where many displaced individuals have sought temporary shelter, is dedicated to providing primary healthcare. It is equipped to offer basic and emergency medical services without requiring hospitalization and operates self-sufficiently with its own power and water supply.

With a capacity to serve up to 200 patients per day, the hospital is scheduled to operate for one month. It aims to support the affected population and anyone in need of medical attention. A team of approximately fifty volunteers, primarily medical professionals and logistics experts coordinated by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (Aecid), arrived in Venezuela earlier this week.

The earthquake, which struck on June 24 with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, has left a significant toll. Authorities report 2,954 fatalities and over 16,000 injuries. Numerous people remain displaced, with many living in temporary shelters in public spaces as they await inspections of their damaged homes. Official figures indicate that 16,309 people are homeless, and 856 buildings have been affected, including 190 that have completely collapsed.