Medellín firefighters recover two bodies in Venezuela after initial entry delay

A team of 22 firefighters from Medellín, Colombia, recovered two bodies in La Guaira, Venezuela, on Sunday after a double earthquake devastated the region. The mission faced an initial delay when Venezuelan authorities held the team for hours at the airport before granting entry.

The Delay

Mayor Federico Gutiérrez denounced the delay on Friday, stating the firefighters waited four hours in an airport lounge without authorization. He called the situation "absurd" and criticized both Venezuelan and Colombian authorities for requiring coordination Source: eltiempoco. The team was eventually allowed in around 11 p.m. that day.

The Recovery

By Sunday, the firefighters had recovered two bodies in Caraballeda, La Guaira. Gutiérrez confirmed the work ended at 8 p.m. local time and would resume Monday at 6 a.m. Source: elcolombiano.

Team Capabilities

The 22 specialists include 21 firefighters and an engineer, equipped for search and rescue in collapsed structures, with capabilities such as electronic victim location, confined space rescue, and drone operations Source: infobae. They have autonomous logistics for seven days.

Key facts:

• The team was deployed by the Administrative Department of Disaster Risk Management (DAGRD) of Medellín.
• Medellín hosts about 243,000 Venezuelan residents, prompting swift aid from Antioquia.
• Other firefighters from Envigado also traveled to Venezuela Source: eltiempoco.