Brazilian firefighters honored for rescue work after Venezuela earthquakes

Brazilian firefighters from Paraná were honored in a ceremony at Curitiba's Palácio Iguaçu for their role in the international search‑and‑rescue effort in Venezuela following the double magnitude‑7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on 24 June. The Paraná team, part of the BRA‑01 task force coordinated by Brazil's Agency of Cooperation and certified by the UN INSARAG group, carried out 90 interventions, recovered 23 bodies and rescued 14 people in the devastated Vargas region.

Firefighters from other South‑American units also received recognition. Chile’s municipal fire department from Puerto Montt was acknowledged for its rescue contributions, while a volunteer brigade from Rio Grande do Sul returned to Brazil after a week of operations in Caracas, transporting medicines, equipment and assisting in the removal of debris and care for survivors. Their commander, Anderson Jociel da Rosa, highlighted the emotional impact on both Venezuelan residents and the Brazilian volunteers.

The mission, organized in response to a request for international aid from the Venezuelan government, demonstrated cross‑border cooperation among fire services from Brazil and Chile and underscored the humanitarian response to one of the region’s deadliest seismic events.