A British search and rescue team is stranded at Madrid Airport, delayed for over 24 hours in their attempt to reach Venezuela following devastating earthquakes that have claimed more than 1,400 lives.
The 11-person team, along with a dog, from the UK-based charity Serve On, has been unable to travel to Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, since Friday evening. They were rerouted to Madrid after flights from Istanbul were canceled, only to face further cancellations from Spain. The team is reliant on civilian transport, which has been severely affected by the quakes.
Devastation and Delays
Venezuela was struck by two high-magnitude earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, on Wednesday evening. The quakes, among the strongest to hit the country in over a century, caused widespread destruction, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and leading to the collapse of buildings, bridges, and roads. As of Saturday, the confirmed death toll had surpassed 1,400, with thousands more injured and tens of thousands reported missing. Officials estimate over 50,000 people are unaccounted for.
Serve On team leader Vernon Young described the situation as "time critical," emphasizing that "the sooner you get there, the more chance you have of saving lives." The team is equipped with specialized seismic and acoustic equipment designed to detect movement from victims buried deep within rubble. Young noted that in past disasters, live victims have been recovered up to 14 days after an earthquake.
"We're a light team and can move quickly," Young stated. "We still believe we will make a decent contribution if we get there in the next day or two." He added that while a British Government Fire Service Team of 68 people is en route, they have limited information about the situation on the ground in Venezuela.
International Response and Local Frustration
Despite the challenges faced by the Serve On team, foreign rescue teams have been arriving in Venezuela. The United States has committed hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, in addition to an initial $150 million. Rescue and aid teams have also arrived from Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, and France. Helicopters from the U.S. have been used to transport rescue teams to affected areas, including Caraballeda, one of the hardest-hit locations.
However, the international aid effort has coincided with growing frustration among Venezuelans regarding their government's response. Many residents feel the government's efforts are inadequate given the scale of the disaster. Civilians on the ground have reported seeing limited intervention from soldiers, firefighters, and police, with some accusing officials of staging photo opportunities rather than actively participating in rescue operations. During a visit to a damaged area, acting President Delcy Rodríguez was met with angry chants from residents expressing dissatisfaction with the government's actions.
Rodríguez stated that more than 14,000 members of the military and police are involved in disaster zones, where access is restricted. Serve On has faced similar challenges, attempting to find alternative transport methods amid flight cancellations. Young mentioned that other international teams, including French and Spanish groups, are encountering the same travel disruptions.
"We've been in contact with the Government and we know they're doing all they can," Young said. "We all understand that things are difficult, we're frustrated and we want to be out there now."