Venezuela’s government has welcomed 1,600 members of foreign rescue teams to help search for survivors of the devastating twin earthquakes that killed over 900 people this week. The rescue efforts are focused on La Guaira, a popular destination for beachgoers where at least 100 buildings were destroyed or damaged.
Rescue Efforts
Rescuers have been making their way to sites around La Guaira state and Venezuela’s capital Caracas. However, some areas were still largely without an official presence as families and neighbors struggled to find missing loved ones in the rubble.
Officials have closed the road between La Guaira and nearby Caracas, citing heavy traffic that was preventing quick passage of emergency vehicles and official rescuers. Civilians who are not part of official rescue teams will need a credential to pass the roadblock.
International Support
The U.S. has mobilized $150 million in aid and eased sanctions to support the rescue efforts. The U.S. military has also dispatched two ships, and helicopters and aircraft will support the rescue efforts.
Among the rescue teams working in La Guaira is a team from El Salvador, whose President Nayib Bukele has hailed multiple rescues on his social media account, including the rescue of a 15-year-old girl.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
