Argentine USAR brigades return after Venezuela earthquake rescue mission

Argentina’s volunteer urban search‑and‑rescue (USAR) teams from Santa Fe and Córdoba completed a joint humanitarian operation in Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country’s north. The Santa Fe brigade, composed of 40 rescuers and three K9 units, and the Córdoba brigade, with 32 members, were deployed with eight tonnes of specialised equipment. They operated mainly in La Guaira alongside Venezuelan, Bolivian and Ecuadorian rescue units, conducting technical searches for survivors, inspecting collapsed structures and recovering bodies.

The missions were coordinated with local authorities and the Argentine Federal Emergency Agency, under INSARAG certification that enables the teams to intervene internationally. Argentine soldiers of the naval dog‑search battalion also received Venezuelan medals for their work. Upon completion, the contingents returned to Argentina, arriving in Gálvez and Rosario where they were welcomed by provincial officials, including Governor Maximiliano Pullaro, ministers and deputies. The Santa Fe commander summed up the sentiment with the phrase, “Fuimos 40, volvimos 40.” The operation highlighted Argentina’s capability to contribute swiftly to disaster relief abroad and reinforced bilateral ties between the two nations.