Rescuers improvise due to lack of equipment in La Guaira

Second military deployment in the midst of the emergency

A new contingent of United States Marines arrived in Venezuela this Sunday to join the search and rescue efforts after the two earthquakes recorded last Wednesday. According to the US embassy in Caracas, members of the Litoral Combat Force-24, along with sailors from the USS Fort Lauderdale, disembarked in the port of La Guaira with heavy vehicles and supplies.

Simultaneously, another group of Marines arrived by air in Bell UH-1Y Venom helicopters to work in the most affected areas. It is the second deployment since the emergency began; the first, two days ago, included military engineers and rescue specialists.

Cooperation with the new Venezuelan government

The arrival occurs almost six months after Nicolás Maduro was captured in Caracas by US forces and transferred out of the country. After that event, the then vice president Delcy Rodríguez assumed power and changed relations with Washington.

Rodríguez has publicly thanked the assistance of the United States and confirmed conversations with the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to coordinate aid in the face of the humanitarian crisis. Cooperation is managed by the State Department with support from the Southern Command.

On the ground, operations are under the supervision of Marine Major General Kevin J. Jarrard, in charge of facilitating the rescue and distribution of assistance to the affected population.

Details of the accident

Eleven people died this Sunday in Tomblaine, northeastern France, when a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-6 with German registration, took off from the Nancy-Essey airfield and landed less than a minute later in a green area near a residential area and a shopping center. There were no casualties on the ground.

The prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle, Yves Séguy, indicated that the device fell “almost vertically” after an apparent technical failure. Among the deceased are the pilot and the ten occupants: five skydiving instructors and five people who were making their first jump in tandem mode.

Investigation in progress

The emergency services deployed an extensive operation. The police asked the population to avoid the surrounding area to facilitate access for rescue teams. Psychological support teams were mobilized to assist family members and witnesses, several of whom witnessed the accident from the airfield.

The Nancy Prosecutor’s Office opened a judicial investigation, while the aeronautical authorities began a technical investigation to clarify the causes, which for now remain undetermined. The French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, went to the scene of the accident, considered one of the most serious accidents involving a light civil aircraft in France in recent years.

Rescue in Caraballeda

Three days after the earthquakes that shook Venezuela, elements of the Mexican Army managed to rescue an 11-year-old boy who remained under the rubble in Caraballeda, La Guaira state. The president in charge Delcy Rodríguez confirmed the discovery on the night of June 27.

The operation, led by personnel from the Ministry of National Defense sent as part of Mexico’s humanitarian aid, was recorded in a video released by journalist Enrique Acevedo. In the images you can see the soldiers extracting the minor on an orange stretcher, coordinating each movement to avoid hurting him.

The boy, visibly weakened more than 72 hours after the disaster, received constant instructions not to fall asleep. During the rescue, a Mexican soldier started a conversation with him, asking him his age, what year he was in and what his favorite color was, in order to keep him conscious and calm.

The images of the rescue generated reactions of recognition and gratitude on social networks. Among the comments stand out:

“They carry the name of Mexico high, this is Mexico… those who break their hearts to do good, how proud our Mexican army is.”

“Something very important, ask questions to discover the condition of the rescued and at the same time try to reassure him, let’s hope the child recovers.”

“We Venezuelans give a million thanks to the Mexicans, especially to their moles. It breaks my heart to see the face of this child fighting to live.”

“What geniuses these rescuers are trying to give peace of mind to that child amidst so much chaos, asking him questions about his daily life! Nationality does not matter, the humanity of these men matters. Thank you and strength to the Venezuelan people!”

“Thank you Mexico, we will never forget this.”

After being removed from the collapse area, the minor was transferred to receive medical attention. The double earthquake left the country in a state of emergency and international aid continues to reach the most affected areas.