HOMESTEAD, FLA. (WSVN) - To aid in the ongoing search for survivors in Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes, two highly skilled search and rescue teams...
To aid in the ongoing search for survivors in Venezuela following two powerful earthquakes, two highly skilled search and rescue teams from South Florida are getting set to deploy.
Officials announced on Friday that 80 members from Task Force 1 with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, along with K9 teams, are gearing up to help the affected South American country.
MDFR posted on ‘X’ stating their urban search and rescue has:
“Been officially activated by the U.S. Department of State as a response team to assist with search and rescue efforts following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. We deploy with one purpose: To provide hope and help those affected during this difficult time.”
For Captain German Leal, the images of destruction and devastation from Wednesday’s earthquakes in Venezuela hit close to home.
“I was pretty shocked and sad because I’ve been in that area. I’ve walked those streets,” said Leal.
Leal is Venezuelan and has cousins who still live in the country.
“Everybody’s good so far,” said Leal.
But he’s going to help those who aren’t.
“I haven’t been to Venezuela in the last 15 years. So now that I’m going back in a situation like this, it’s going to be very eye-opening,” said Leal.
Leal is part of MDFR’s urban search and rescue Task Force 1.
“We’re coming mentally prepared, and we’re ready to do the right thing,” said Leal.
Task Force 1 will not be going alone.
“Our initial approach is to make sure that every single person we can save is going to be saved,” said Obed Frometa, Task Force 1.
The State Department is also sending USAR Task Force 2, which is comprised of Miami Fire Rescue and other local agencies.
They’re also bringing an 80-person team with K-9’s to help with search and rescue efforts.
“The type of equipment you would need for search and rescue is to tunnel through concrete to be able to send audio equipment, cabling equipment to be able to see if there’s any live victims,” said Chief of Miami Fire Rescue Robert Hevia.
On the ground in Caracas, the capital city, a gut-wrenching shriek was heard over a home that once stood. As of late Friday afternoon, the confirmed number of dead rose significantly to at least 920 people.
As staggering as that number is, so is the number of more than 51,000 who remain missing.
“The situation is dire,” said MDFR Chief Ray Jadallah.
“I’m desperate. I just want to know where my son is, whether he’s trapped or at a shelter. I’m desperate,” said Delgado, an earthquake survivor.
Crews in Caracas are pulling residents from leveled buildings and apartments.
From all over the globe, aid and rescue teams are arriving in Venezuela to help.
Deputy Spokesperson at United Nations OCHA, Jens Laerke, spoke about the situation in Venezuela.
“The entire humanitarian system is moving very fast and at scale, supporting the government-led response in Venezuela. Top priority: Search and rescue,” said Laerke.
U.S. Southern Command was on the ground on Friday, looking to direct the military to deliver the people and capabilities to save lives.
The massive magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes hit just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday. Satellite images show a chilling before and after of building after building damaged or destroyed.
Now, the growing concern is that some buildings currently standing could collapse.
“Even in my own building, there are many, many cracks in some of the apartments in my own apartment. There’s a lot of cracks in the walls,” said Alex Desrivieres, an American in Venezuela.
As search and rescue crews in South Florida make their way to Venezuela, more videos are being uploaded online showing the search and rescue efforts.
7News received video of an 18-day-old baby found safe and sound in the hands of rescuers who brought him and, later, his mother, from a collapsed building.
Those in South Florida are hoping to get to Venezuela in the coming days to help in their efforts and to deliver the wide-ranging amount of aid that has been donated by thousands of people in our community.
The Venezuelan people have taken the search for loved ones into their own hands.
Both teams are prepared to be in Venezuela for two weeks, but that timeline can change.
According to both teams, they could leave early on Friday evening or early in the morning.
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