Vietnam rescue team recovers 54 victims in Venezuela earthquake

Twin earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on 24 June, killing more than 3,300 people, injuring over 16,000 and leaving tens of thousands homeless. The disaster prompted a massive response, with nearly 30,000 Venezuelan officials, 27,000 volunteers and over 4,000 international rescuers deployed.

Vietnam sent a 124‑member contingent from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, together with ten search‑and‑rescue dogs and tonnes of relief supplies. Operating in the hardest‑hit La Guaira state, the team worked around the clock, using ground‑penetrating radar and specialized equipment. By 4 July the Vietnamese team had recovered nine bodies that day and a total of 54 victims from the rubble, while also assisting local residents with moving belongings, medical examinations and free medication.

The international rescue effort is now tapering as search operations wind down and focus shifts to clearing debris and establishing temporary shelters. Venezuelan authorities have set up dozens of camps and delivered tens of thousands of tonnes of food and water to the affected population.