WASHINGTON, United States, June 27, (v7n) – The United States said Friday it was sending a disaster response team of more than 250 personnel, including three special search-and-rescue units, to locate survivors in earthquake-stricken Venezuela.
The three units—deployed from Miami, Los Angeles, and Fairfax County (west of Washington DC)—comprise firefighters, physicians, paramedics, structural engineers, and canine search specialists with 18 dogs trained to locate people trapped in rubble from the powerful twin quakes that struck Wednesday, according to a State Department statement. The teams were en route and will work with local emergency responders in the aftermath of the quakes, which have killed at least 920 people. Together, the personnel will bring more than 200,000 pounds of special search-and-rescue equipment.
The US had announced Thursday it was deploying two warships, transport planes, and helicopters, and mobilizing $150 million in aid to Venezuela. Earlier Friday, US Marine Corps Major General Kevin Jarrard arrived in Caracas to oversee Department of Defense relief efforts in support of the State Department, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said.
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