The Department of Search and Rescue, under the Ministry of National Defense, announced today that the Vietnam People's Army rescue team landed at Maquetia International Airport in La Guaira state on 29/6, at 12:00 local time. The airport is located about 30 km north of the capital, Caracas. The team is currently stationed in a coastal area, approximately 4 km from the airport and 10 km from the search site.

Buildings collapsed after the earthquake in Venezuela. *Photo: Rescue team*

After establishing their base, the rescue team conducted a site survey in Playa Grande, Catia La Mar district, La Guaira state. This area is characterized by many multi-story buildings situated on slopes, which suffered severe landslides due to the earthquake. Daytime temperatures hover around 30 degrees C. Images from the scene show numerous collapsed high-rise structures, with large concrete blocks piled on top of each other.

According to their plan, on the morning of 30/6 local time (this evening in Hanoi), the team will divide into groups and commence search operations. The rescue force comprises K9 dogs from the border guards, military medical personnel, and military engineers specialized in collapse rescue.

Before their departure, Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Department of Search and Rescue, Ministry of National Defense, and head of the rescue team, shared insights from previous missions. He explained that Vietnamese troops would first deploy K9 dogs to locate victims and bodies within collapsed structures. This information would then be handed over to military engineers and local forces. The engineers would use acoustic detection equipment and through-wall radar systems to pinpoint exact locations for victim extraction. Military medical personnel, including internal medicine and surgical doctors, would provide examinations, treatment, and free medication to residents in the earthquake-affected area.

The Vietnamese rescue team surveyed the scene immediately upon arrival. *Photo: Rescue team*

Earlier, a flight departed from Noi Bai on the night of 28/6, transporting the Vietnamese rescue team to Venezuela to assist with disaster relief efforts. The team comprises a total of 124 personnel: 82 military personnel from the Ministry of National Defense and 42 officers and soldiers from the Ministry of Public Security.

Venezuela, located in South America, is over 17.000 km from Vietnam. A dual earthquake, measuring 7,2 and 7,5 on the Richter scale, struck the country at 18:04 on 24/6. The disaster has resulted in 1.430 fatalities, over 3.000 injuries, and more than 50.000 missing persons. These figures are expected to rise as many buildings have collapsed, including Simon Bolivar International Airport.

This mission marks the third time the Vietnam People's Army has participated in international earthquake disaster relief. In 2/2023, the Vietnamese military deployed 76 personnel for its first international rescue mission to Turkiye, following a 7,8-magnitude earthquake that killed over 43.500 people. Two years later, in 3/2025, a team of 80 Vietnamese military personnel again deployed to Myanmar for rescue efforts after a powerful 7,7-magnitude earthquake caused over 3.000 deaths.

Hoang Phuong