With no hope of finding more survivors in Venezuela, most international rescuers return to their countries

Eleven days have passed since the seismic doublet shook the country with a force of 7.2 and 7.5 degrees of magnitude, which has affected 885 buildings that have been disabled and 189 buildings completely collapsed between Caracas and La Guaira, the most devastated areas.

The international brigade members along with their local counterparts now say goodbye with the duty fulfilled of their mission for having rescued the survivors of the earthquake and their helplessness for not having been able to give much more than what they have given. Your help has been enormous and invaluable in the face of the worst natural tragedy recorded in the country in 126 years (the 1900 earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7 degrees) at a time when the Chavista regime has demonstrated inability and inefficiency to address the crisis.

The acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, along with her brother Jorge and Diosdado Cabello (Minister of the Interior and Justice) said goodbye this Saturday 350 rescuers from the United States, whom he thanked for their participation in the rescue efforts after spending a week in Venezuela. They were accompanied by the chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Caracas, John Barret. Washington’s support is essential for the work of reconstruction and repair of infrastructure that was damaged, such as the Simón Bolívar de Maiquetía airport in La Guaira.

The interim president thanked the work of 3,681 rescuers from 30 countries who have brought 1,086 tons of supplies and equipment27 vehicles and 118 dogs to strengthen search and rescue efforts. In total, some 25,000 national and foreign volunteers have participated, including firefighters, rescuers, police and military, says the interim.

Until this Sunday, The official balance reports 6,462 people rescued alive from the rubble. Search and rescue operations, which mobilized thousands of national and international rescuers, confirmed at least 2,954 deaths and 16,592 injuries.

Exhausted and exhausted by the intense work to which they They dedicated 24 uninterrupted hours this weekthe rescuers leave satisfied with the multiple services (coffee, food and water) that family members and neighbors offered them while they waited for their loved ones to rescue them.

“The attention you give us is so beautiful,” said a rescuer from El Salvador who portrayed the nobility and hospitality of many Venezuelans who, even losing everything, offer food to the rescuers.

While some countries are concluding their task in Venezuela and leaving the country, El Salvador confirmed that a return date is not set. “As long as there are things to attend to the population in need, we will not have a return date,” said Luis Amaya, director of civil protection. El Salvador has moved everyone with its work in search of survivors. Venezuelans treat rescuers like heroes.

Among the dogs that have saved the most lives, Tsunami stands out, a Venezuelan dog that has been rescued from the rubble. about 25 people for their fine sense of smell and training. But his story goes far beyond his work: before becoming a hero, he suffered abandonment and severe abuse. Today, this border collie proves that even after pain, lives can still be saved.

On the part of Spain, a total of 40 emergency brigade members return to Madrid today after finishing their work in Venezuela. The operation moved to the country to collaborate in the work derived from the recently recorded earthquakes.

But not all Spaniards leave the country. Spanish cooperation decided to install a field hospital which began operating this Saturday in a Parque del Este in Caracas, with outpatient capacity to provide basic and emergency health care without hospitalization, functioning self-sufficiently, with its own energy and water.

This operation, from the START group (Emergency Assistance and Response Technical Team), will be operational for a month to serve the affected population and anyone who needs any health care and has capacity for up to 200 patients a day.

The seismic tremors have continued with less intensity, and The forecasts are that they will continue for 3 or 6 more months.. Many affected buildings are falling little by little. For example, the Colegio Agustiniano San Judas Tadeo, in the La Pastora sector (north of Caracas), is located on the edge of a ravine with small houses below, on which debris fell, leaving at least one injured, who was taken to a hospital.

Given the continuation of the tremors, the Argentine brigades “USAR ARG-10 Córdoba and USAR ARG-15 Santa Fe” have traveled to Venezuela to relieve the Argentine teams deployed and continue the search and rescue tasks.

A tour of the zero zones presents a bleak panorama of the city. In every corner, tents and shops of people sleeping on the street appear for fear of the repetition of the tremors, especially in Los Palos Grandes and Altamira, middle-class neighborhoods, who are now simple victims who fear returning to their cracked homes.

The United Nations projects that some 60,000 buildings have been affected and some 7 million Venezuelans have been harmed by the earthquake. It also indicates that the country will need about $37 billion to rebuild its urban infrastructure.