The US State Department announced that American search and rescue teams pulled a 9-month-old baby alive from the rubble following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela.
In a video shared by the ministry on social media, US personnel were seen rescuing the baby from the debris. The operation, carried out by the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team in the Catia La Mar area, also rescued the mother who was injured. Both were reported to have only minor injuries.
Teams still searching for life under rubble after 72 hours
More than 72 hours after two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela's northern coast, rescue efforts continue uninterrupted. Authorities announced on Saturday that the death toll had reached 1,430, while 243 people had been rescued alive. According to the Associated Press, more than 68,000 people remain missing across the country.
A US State Department spokesperson said, “This heroic rescue was carried out by the Fairfax County USAR team (USA-01), deployed to Venezuela on June 26.” The White House also shared the video, thanked the rescue teams, and described the operation as “America at its best.”
Three USAR teams with 312 personnel working
The US dispatched three urban search and rescue teams from Virginia, California, and Florida to the region. The teams, comprising a total of 312 personnel and 18 search dogs, include firefighters, doctors, structural engineers, and canine search specialists. The teams also carried more than 90 tons of specialized rescue equipment. The Los Angeles County team was equipped with listening devices capable of detecting sounds under rubble and concrete breakers.
In La Guaira and the capital Caracas, where the disaster caused the greatest destruction, families and volunteers have been working for days to pull survivors and the deceased from the rubble.
The US committed $150 million in emergency aid for disaster response and support for international aid organizations.
