Turkish rescue teams arrive in Caracas following devastating earthquakes

Two Turkish military transport aircraft carrying rescue teams have arrived at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, to assist with relief efforts following the recent devastating earthquakes.

The teams were welcomed by Naci Aydan Karamanoğlu, Türkiye’s ambassador to Venezuela, Caliber.Az reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Karamanoğlu said Venezuela had experienced “two consecutive disasters” in the form of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, the strongest the country has seen in the past 125 years.

“The destruction resembles the tragedy of February 6 in Türkiye,” the diplomat said, referring to the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Türkiye in 2023.

Mehmet Bahtiyar, commander of the Turkish Armed Forces’ humanitarian assistance brigade, said a fully equipped search-and-rescue unit had been deployed to Venezuela.

The team includes four specially trained rescue dogs that will take part in operations in areas affected by the powerful earthquakes.

By Jeyhun Aghazada