Chile sends rescue team to Venezuela after deadly earthquakes

Chile dispatched a team of specialized rescuers to Venezuela on Thursday, following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24. The operation, coordinated by the Interior Ministry and the Chilean Air Force (FACh), is part of an international aid effort for the disaster-stricken nation.

The deployment

A first flight carrying 30 (according to Emol) or 37 (per Infobae/EFE) rescuers from the USAR team of Chile’s fire department, along with six tons of equipment, departed from Pudahuel Air Base. The team is headed to La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit areas Source: Emol. A second flight with additional specialists is planned, with total numbers ranging from 40 to 47 rescuers Source: Emol; Infobae. The team has 10 days of autonomous operational capacity, including water purification systems, search cameras, and structural stabilization gear Source: Emol.

Political context

President José Antonio Kast spoke with Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez, marking the first high-level contact since relations broke after the 2024 elections Source: Infobae. Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna noted that consular relations are progressing but the priority is rescue efforts Source: Infobae.

The earthquakes, of magnitudes 7.5 and 7.2, have caused at least 188 deaths and 1,520 injuries, according to official figures Source: Infobae. Chile, home to over 700,000 Venezuelans, joins a dozen other nations providing aid Source: Emol.