New Delhi, June 27: Following two powerful earthquakes, Panama has stepped up to provide significant assistance to Venezuela. According to President José Raúl Mulino, Panama has successfully completed its first flight carrying 18 tons of humanitarian aid to the stricken nation. The country is also preparing to deploy a specialized search and rescue team to Venezuela.
In a post on the social media platform X on Friday, Mulino stated, “Thanks to Panama’s solidarity, donations are being collected, and the first flight with 18 tons of aid has been completed.”
As reported by the Xinhua news agency, the requested supplies include non-perishable food, bottled water, personal hygiene items, basic medical supplies, flashlights, batteries, and other emergency supplies for affected families.
Additionally, Omar Smith, Director of Panama’s National Civil Protection System, announced preparations to deploy a specialized search and rescue team, which will be led by the National Civil Protection System.
Smith indicated that the team will consist of approximately 60 personnel and four trained dogs for search operations. They will be equipped with drones and thermal-capable devices to assist in locating individuals. Furthermore, trained professionals will be on hand to manage chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear situations.
Local media reports that the operation is expected to last initially for seven days, although the search duration may be extended depending on the conditions in Venezuela. If necessary, a second aircraft will be dispatched to transport additional rescuers.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the devastating earthquake on Wednesday, technical and humanitarian assistance has begun arriving in Venezuela from over a dozen countries to aid victims and support initial recovery efforts.
Since Thursday, rescue teams and specialized supplies have reached Venezuela from countries including India, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Qatar, as well as from the UN system.
According to the latest official reports, the earthquake on Wednesday resulted in at least 920 fatalities and over 3,360 injuries, causing significant damage to infrastructure along the country’s central coast.
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