Rescue teams equipped with advanced tools and rescue dogs arrived in Venezuela as part of the international effort to find survivors after devastating earthquakes. The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s urban search and rescue team started their operations at a collapsed 10-story building in Caraballeda, a coastal town ravaged by the earthquakes.
Assistant Fire Chief Trey Espy reported eight people may be trapped in the debris based on information from residents. Rescuers used listening devices and heard sounds suggesting potential survivors beneath the rubble.
The situation in Venezuela remains dire. The twin earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.5 and 7.2, claimed nearly 1,500 lives, and many are still missing. Many high-rise buildings have collapsed, leaving the area in ruins. Espy described the destruction as “very grim,” with numerous structures entirely destroyed or partially shifted.
As the rescue operations continue, Southern California communities sprang into action to support the relief efforts. In Pasadena, volunteers from Chamo Venezuelan Cuisine collected essential supplies like bandages, gauze, and painkillers. Augusto Giancola, a volunteer, noted the regular influx of donations, emphasizing the community’s hope despite the dire circumstances.
In downtown Los Angeles, at the Venezuelan restaurant Full Arepas, volunteers gathered donations, packing toothbrushes, baby wipes, and instant soup into boxes. Kelly Montano, the restaurant owner, shared her anxiety over missing family members since the earthquake. Montano remains focused on aid efforts and managing her business as she awaits news.
In Venezuela, rescue workers shifted to a new rescue site, a partially collapsed 10-story building, to free a guard trapped in the underground parking garage. Using cutting tools, the team embarked on a complex operation to reach the individual, heard but not seen by rescuers.
The Los Angeles County rescue team is composed of diverse specialists, including firefighters, paramedics, doctors, and structural engineers. This team, known as USA-2, joined forces with USA-1 from Fairfax County, Virginia. USA-1 successfully rescued three survivors, including a 9-month-old baby.
The U.S. State Department highlighted the triumph of the rescue operations, noting the perseverance against overwhelming challenges. As efforts continue, rescuers and volunteers remain steadfast in their mission to save lives and provide aid to those affected by the tragedy.
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