In the wake of Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes, specialists from California, Virginia, and Florida have joined local efforts to find and rescue survivors. The Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue team from Virginia, alongside other international crews, have been playing a critical role.
The earthquake disaster struck parts of La Guaira, including towns like Caraballeda, flattening many buildings. Among the stricken residents was a mother, who called upon an American search-and-rescue team. Her three children, aged 9 to 16, were trapped in a collapsed 12-story building.
The team from California had been en route to another site when this urgent plea redirected them. According to Trey Espy, assistant chief with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, search dogs indicated life beneath the rubble. Special listening devices confirmed these signs with the sound of tapping, prompting the team to request excavation tools.
Rescue workers have since labored intensively using concrete cutters, shovels, axes, and even their hands, working against time. Espy emphasized the importance of speed in their efforts to save lives.
The earthquakes, impacting large coastal areas near Caracas, have resulted in the deaths of at least 1,900 people. Many remain trapped in hundreds of collapsed structures, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the ongoing international rescue response.
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