Newsman: The US State Department has taken the rare step of activating a third urban search and rescue team to help with search operations in Venezuela — deploying a task force from Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said its team was “officially activated” by the State Department earlier Friday.
“From the moment we learned of this tragedy, our team has remained on standby, ready to respond. Many in our community have family, friends, and loved ones in Venezuela, making this mission especially meaningful,” Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said in a statement.
The team from Florida will consist of 80 personnel and six canine teams.
The two federal search and rescue teams that were sent to Venezuela at max deployment levels are currently on the ground there pulling people from collapsed buildings, ABC News reported on Saturday.
“We heard that survivors were found in the last few hours, and they’re going to work as hard as they can over the next few days out in the field,” the official told ABC News.
The official then said that two teams from Miami-Dade, Florida, had been activated and federalized; marking the first time in over a decade the State Department had deployed USAR teams beyond USA-1 and USA-2.
The senior administration official announced that U.S. teams had repaired one of the runways at Simón Bolivar airport.
In addition to $150 million already committed to the Venezuela earthquakes response, the official said the Trump administration was preparing “an additional package right now of nine figures that we’re going to announce in the next day or so.”
“They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the response efforts by sending rescue workers, specialist equipment, support for temporary shelters and humanitarian aid for the affected families. We are deeply grateful for this gesture of friendship and cooperation,” Rodriguez added.
US search teams arrive in Venezuela
The first plane with U.S. search and rescue crews arrived in Venezuela Friday, according to officials.
The 80-member team includes firefighters, doctors and structural engineers as well as search and rescue canines, according to Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 1.
Virginia Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue members are en route to Venezuela deploying 79 Urban Search and Rescue personnel, six K9 teams, and more than 70,000 pounds of specialized rescue and medical equipment.
Virginia Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue
The team will being sent to the “hardest-hit areas,” according to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.
“Priorities include establishing a base of operations & working with the Venezuelan authorities to ensure our operations meet their needs,” Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 1 said in an X post.
US ‘surging’ military assets to assist in Venezuela
U.S. Southern Command said it is “surging” military forces in the region to assist in earthquake relief efforts.
Two U.S. Navy ships and aircraft in the Caribbean have been assigned to support the U.S. quake relief operations in Venezuela that are being led by the State Department, the command said.
The amphibious ships USS Fort Lauderdale and the littoral combat ships USS Billings are being moved closer to Venezuela to provide assistance.
Residents search for victims through the rubble of a collapsed building in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state,
In addition, transport aircraft and helicopters are being sent.
“These forces will provide specialized mobility services and support to U.S. government personnel, search and rescue teams, and U.S. interagency partners as they assess damage, locate the injured, and deliver critical, life-saving assistance,” SOUTHCOM said in a statement.
