Vietnam Rescue Mission Returns Home After Venezuela Earthquake Relief Operations

	Vietnam Rescue Team Reaches Site Where 15 Remain Trapped in Venezuela
	Vietnamese Rescue Team's Relentless Efforts at Epicenter of Venezuela Earthquake

The Vietnam rescue team returns home after the Venezuela earthquake mission. (Photo: VNA)

The flight carrying rescue personnel from the Vietnam People's Army and the People's Public Security Force landed at Noi Bai International Airport at 11:30 p.m. on July 10, marking the completion of their humanitarian mission in Venezuela.

According to the People's Army Newspaper, the delegation was welcomed by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of National Defence; Senior Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security; along with representatives of agencies under the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security.

The 124-member delegation comprised officers and personnel from the military and public security forces. It was led by Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Search and Rescue Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Chief of Office of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defence. Senior Colonel Pham Hung Duong, Deputy Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, served as deputy head of the delegation.

Nearly two weeks in the disaster zone

Upon arriving in Venezuela on June 29, the delegation was deployed to Playa Grande in Catia La Mar, La Guaira State, one of the areas hardest hit by the twin earthquakes that struck on June 24, where numerous buildings on steep hillsides had collapsed.

The delegation also handed over 50.6 tonnes of relief supplies, including military ration packs, instant noodles, canned meat and medical supplies, to Venezuela's disaster relief authorities.

From June 29 to July 6, Vietnamese personnel worked daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., with some operations continuing overnight. Rescue efforts were carried out in extremely challenging conditions, as many damaged structures remained unstable and at risk of secondary collapse, while aftershock warnings persisted throughout the search operation.

The team recovered 57 victims' bodies from collapsed buildings and handed them over to local authorities and families. The Vietnamese team also identified 46 additional locations where victims were believed to be trapped by using search-and-rescue dogs and specialized rescue equipment. Based on this information, Venezuelan rescue forces subsequently recovered 38 more bodies.

The delegation established a field medical station at the disaster site, providing medical examinations and medicines to 132 local residents and rescue personnel. Team members also distributed food and essential supplies to affected communities in three severely impacted areas, assisted local families in moving belongings, and offered free medical consultations and medicines.

Throughout the mission, all personnel, rescue dogs and equipment remained safe, with no accidents or injuries reported. The delegation received close support from Venezuelan authorities, the Embassy of Vietnam in Venezuela and the Vietnamese community in the country.

Venezuela commends Vietnam's professionalism and dedication

According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Lieutenant Colonel Raúl Serrano Chacón of the Venezuelan Presidential Guard Command, who directly coordinated the Vietnamese team's operations, praised its members for their ability to adapt to demanding working conditions and for demonstrating professionalism, discipline, dedication and close coordination throughout the mission.

Speaking at the farewell ceremony held at Simón Bolívar International Airport on July 9, Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yván Gil Pinto expressed appreciation for Vietnam's prompt deployment of rescue personnel and humanitarian aid to support communities affected by the earthquakes. He said Venezuela would always remember "Vietnam's sincere and selfless solidarity."

In recognition of the delegation's contributions, the Venezuelan Government awarded the First-Class Hero of Venezuela Medal to the delegation, the Second-Class Hero of Venezuela Medal to all 124 members, and the Medal for Meritorious Service to the team's search-and-rescue dogs.

This marked the third time Vietnam has deployed rescue forces and equipment overseas to carry out international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Previously, Vietnamese rescue teams participated in post-earthquake relief missions in Türkiye in 2023 and Myanmar in 2025.

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