Vietnam deploys disaster‑relief team to earthquake‑hit Venezuela

Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence and Public Security dispatched an 82‑member disaster‑relief contingent to Venezuela after a major earthquake struck the La Guaira region. The team, led by Lieutenant‑General Phạm Văn Tỵ, includes 26 officers, 56 professional soldiers, engineering, medical and canine search units, and carries roughly 88 tonnes of supplies – food, tents, generators, medicines and specialist equipment such as wall‑penetrating radar and rescue dogs.

The mission, approved at a joint command conference on 28 June, marks Vietnam’s third overseas humanitarian deployment after Turkey and Myanmar. Personnel flew from Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport to Maiquetía and will operate from a base near Caracas for an estimated 20 days, coordinating with Venezuelan forces and government officials. Venezuelan Armed Forces Minister Gustavo González López and Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto publicly thanked the Vietnamese team, praising its professionalism and rapid response.

Vietnam’s effort aims to locate survivors, provide medical care, and assist in clearing debris in the most severely affected zones, demonstrating the country’s growing role in international disaster‑relief operations.