Venezuelan earthquake destruction 'incomparable' to Chile's 2010 disaster, rescue official says

A Chilean firefighter rescue official has drawn a stark comparison between the recent earthquakes in Venezuela and the devastating 2010 earthquake that struck Chile. Kevin Bedwell, liaison officer for the Firefighter USAR Group, stated upon returning from a 10-day mission in La Guaira, Venezuela, that the destruction witnessed there "has no point of comparison" with the damage suffered in Chile.

Bedwell explained that Chilean volunteers faced a scenario of massive infrastructure collapse in Venezuela, necessitating the application of international search and rescue standards set by the United Nations. He highlighted that the scale of the tragedy in Venezuela, especially in the city of La Guaira, far surpassed that of the 2010 earthquake.

The Chilean rescuers received a tribute at the presidential palace, La Moneda, following their participation in the search and rescue efforts in Venezuela. Their experience underscores the immense scale of the disaster and the critical role of international cooperation in disaster response.