Seven firefighters from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) have joined the search for victims in Venezuela after two devastating earthquakes struck the Latin American country on Wednesday. The team is part of a UK-wide contingent deployed by UK International Search and Rescue (UK-ISAR), which also dispatched rescue dogs to assist in the effort.
Massive Death Toll and Destruction
The natural disaster has killed more than 1,700 people and has been described as the “most brutal natural catastrophe” in the country’s history by interim president Delcy Rodriguez. With magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, the earthquakes tore down almost 800 buildings in a brief 39 seconds, leaving many trapped by debris even six days later. The UN has warned that deaths could be as high as 10,000, while some 43,000 are still unaccounted for.
Challenging Conditions for Rescuers
LFB station commander and UK-ISAR team coordinator Ian Simpson said: “The team are working really hard and doing their very best in difficult circumstances with 100% humidity. Added to that, the infrastructure has been decimated so transportation by road is extremely challenging. Thankfully, local people are assisting us on the ground and helping us locate those who need rescuing.” He added that the team is supported by mental health first aiders, noting that the “devastation” was “quite shocking to see first hand.”
International Aid and Local Efforts
Emerging footage from Venezuela shows residents furiously digging through rubble to find loved ones. Teams from Vietnam, Italy, Cuba, and other countries have also been dispatched to join the effort. London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “First and foremost I would like to express my deep heartfelt condolences on behalf of the London Fire Brigade to the people of Venezuela who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. It is a great honour to have our London Fire Brigade staff join the rescue effort as part of the UK-ISAR team. I am very proud of our seven staff who deployed with little notice to fly out to Venezuela. It goes without saying, the whole of the Brigade wishes them all a very successful deployment.”
