Dutch rescue team heading to Venezuela with 65 people, 8 dogs

The Netherlands' Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team left for Venezuela on Friday to assist in the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes. The Dutch government has released 2 million euros from its emergency relief fund to support the humanitarian response.The USAR deployment includes 65 specialists and eight search dogs.

The team brings together rescue workers, nurses, dog handlers, a physician, a structural engineer, and ICT specialists drawn from the fire service, police, military, and ambulance services. The deployment includes around 16 tonnes of equipment, among them sophisticated listening technology and cameras designed to help rescuers locate survivors trapped beneath debris.

Two powerful earthquakes hit Venezuela on Wednesday evening, causing widespread destruction around the capital, Caracas, and the coastal city of La Guaira. At least 188 people have been confirmed dead so far, but authorities warn the toll is likely to rise, with hundreds still unaccounted for beneath the debris.

The rescue team left Eindhoven Air Base around midday on Friday on board a Dutch military transport aircraft. Their arrival in Venezuela is expected later on Friday evening, local time.

Venezuela has formally asked the Dutch government for assistance. Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said the Netherlands agreed without delay because of the severity of the disaster and Venezuela’s proximity to the Kingdom of the Netherlands through the Leeward Islands.

The team’s primary role is to find, locate, and free survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures. It also assists with coordinating international relief efforts where possible, in close cooperation with local authorities and other rescue teams on the ground.