A 11-member British volunteer team from the charity Serve On, equipped to assist in Venezuela's earthquake recovery, has been stranded at Madrid Airport for over 24 hours. The team, which includes a dog, was attempting to reach Caracas following back-to-back earthquakes that struck the South American nation on Wednesday evening, killing more than 1,000 people.
The group arrived in Madrid after flights from Istanbul ceased, but further disruptions in Spain have halted their progress. Serve On team leader Vernon Young stated that reaching the affected areas is time-critical, emphasizing that rapid deployment increases the chances of saving lives. Serve On utilizes specialized seismic and acoustic equipment designed to detect movement from buried victims, which could aid in recovery efforts.
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in over a century. They caused widespread devastation, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and severely affecting infrastructure, including the country's only international airport serving Caracas, Simon Bolivar International Airport. The death toll has since surpassed 1,400, with thousands injured and tens of thousands reported missing.
Mr. Young, who has prior disaster response experience in other regions, expressed frustration over the delays but acknowledged efforts by the British government to assist. He noted that other international teams, including French and Spanish groups, are also encountering similar travel challenges.
As foreign rescue teams, including those from the United States, France, Brazil, El Salvador, and Mexico, pour into Venezuela, local frustration mounts over the perceived inadequacy of the government's response. Civilians involved in search and rescue operations have reported a lack of support from official military and police units, with some alleging that government personnel were more focused on public relations than on active rescue.
Venezuelan officials, including Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, have stated that thousands of military and police personnel are deployed in disaster zones. However, residents on the ground have reported seeing little evidence of this, with some accusing authorities of inaction even when survivors and bodies have been located. The disaster presents a significant challenge for the current government, which is already navigating a decade of economic disarray and facing questions about its legitimacy.
A U.S. administration official confirmed that a substantial funding package is expected to be announced for Venezuela, in addition to previously committed aid. International rescue efforts are ongoing in the hardest-hit coastal areas, including Caracas and La Guaira, where residents and volunteers continue to search for survivors amidst the collapsed buildings and widespread destruction.