British search-and-rescue teams deployed to Venezuela have been praised for their efforts in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake that flattened large parts of the country's northern coast. The 7.8 magnitude tremor, which struck early Tuesday morning, has left thousands dead and entire districts reduced to rubble.
UK International Rescue Corps personnel, working alongside Venezuelan emergency services, have pulled survivors from collapsed buildings in the port city of La Guaira and the capital, Caracas. A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that 52 British specialists are on the ground, operating under the coordination of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 'Every person saved is a miracle,' said team leader Sarah Mitchell in a statement released from the scene.
The UK contingent has focused on structural triage and urban search techniques, using sniffer dogs and acoustic detection equipment to locate trapped individuals. Despite the devastation, the pace of rescues has slowed as the critical 72-hour window closes. Officials warn that disease outbreaks and secondary collapses pose increasing risks to both survivors and aid workers.
The deployment is the largest British disaster response in Latin America since the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
