Peru's USAR team from the
will return to their country of origin this Friday, after concluding its participation in search and rescue operations following the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week.
Chief Brigadier Carlos Malpica, spokesperson for the institution, reported that the Peruvian delegation—made up of 38 firefighters and Kaira, the rescue dog—will arrive on a commercial flight making a stopover in Bogota, Colombia, before landing in Lima.
The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport at 8:20 p.m. (local time).
The Peruvian rescuers are returning to the country after nearly a week of uninterrupted work in the areas hardest hit by the disaster.
Their departure comes as part of the demobilization process for international search and rescue teams ordered by Venezuelan authorities and humanitarian coordination agencies.
The Peruvian mission was part of the broad international deployment activated after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck north-central Venezuela on June 24.
The quakes caused severe structural damage in the state of La Guaira—considered "ground zero" of the emergency—as well as in various areas of Caracas.
One week after the tragedy, the Venezuelan Government and operational agencies—including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)—determined that the survival window under collapsed structures had closed.
Spokespersons for the Peruvian firefighters said the active search for survivors was officially ended, except in specific cases.
With this decision, the response moved into the phase of body recovery and heavy debris removal, as well as the gradual withdrawal of the international USAR teams that took part in the emergency operations.
More than 3,000 rescuers
The international assistance effort included 3,319 foreign rescuers, grouped into 45 delegations from more than 17 countries.
They all worked for several days under conditions of high temperatures and extreme humidity.
During the operations, international USAR teams rescued 41 survivors from the rubble.
The deployment also included 140 canine units specialized in locating people trapped under rubble, as well as 49 emergency and technical support vehicles.
The Peruvian team played a key role in the rescue of a 60-year-old survivor and in the recovery of five victims’ bodies.
According to the latest official report from Venezuelan authorities, the death toll has risen to 2,295, while 11,267 injured people have received medical attention.
International organizations have warned that the death toll could rise as debris removal efforts continue.
One of the most emblematic rescues during the emergency was that of Hernan Gil, who was found alive in the state of La Guaira after spending seven days trapped inside a security booth.
His rescue required nearly 72 hours of continuous work by specialized teams.