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A 68-strong team of firefighters and staff from 14 fire and rescue services has arrived in Venezuela and is now conducting systematic searches of collapsed structures, deploying canine search teams and using specialist equipment to locate survivors after devastating earthquakes left over 1500 dead and thousands unaccounted for.
The UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team flew to Venezuela from the RAF base at Brize Norton and was accompanied by a UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) who are assessing urgent health needs and inform further UK medical support. The rescue efforts also include a humanitarian field team of supply chain, humanitarian and security specialists, with further personnel joining in country to support the delivery and coordination of UK assistance.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) released an initial £2 million in humanitarian funding to support the response. The Voyager aircraft carried supplies including specialist drones that will be used to assess structural collapses safely, identify hazards such as compromised roofs, and direct rescue teams.
The UK ISAR team is based in the Caraballeda Coastal region, which is about 15 km north of the capital, Caracas and is working alongside local and international partners to carry out systematic searches of collapsed structures, deploying canine search teams with six specially trained dogs and using specialist equipment to locate survivors.
“Since arriving in Venezuela the UK ISAR team has been working round the clock in incredibly challenging conditions, working side by side with local and international colleagues as part of a coordinated global response. Their dedication and professionalism is a source of great pride for the UK’s fire and rescue services.
“The commitment of our firefighters and specialists to do everything they can to help brings hope at a time of immense difficulty.”
Phil Garrigan, Chair, National Fire Chiefs Council.
UK ISAR respond to disasters on behalf of the FCDO. UK ISAR is a partnership between the FCDO and UK Fire and Rescue Services, providing a 24/7 deployable search and rescue capability for international emergencies.
Learn more about the work of UK ISAR when Gav Kearsley, who coordinates the UK ISAR team in Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, shares his experience of responding to last year’s floods in Mozambique on stage at The Emergency Services Show. Gav is speaking on 16 September on the Protecting the Protectors stage. Register to attend here.
