'Thanks' Message to Search and Rescue Teams After the Earthquake in Karakas

In Karakas, the capital of Venezuela, special banners were hung to thank the national and international search and rescue teams who arrived in the region following the devastating earthquakes that shook the country on 24 June. Appearing in different parts of the city on Tuesday, 7 July, these banners read "Thank you rescuers" in Spanish and English. Placed at the city's busiest traffic points such as Altamira, La Carlota, and Los Ruices, the structures honor the efforts of the teams who sacrificed themselves to save lives under the rubble. The fact that these meaningful messages do not bear the signature of any official institution or private organization shows that the public organized their gratitude from within. This practice, which serves as a visual thank you, reinforces the positive impression of the international community, which is trying to heal the wounds of the earthquake disaster, on the people of Venezuela.

Search and rescue activities are gradually coming to an end in many regions, especially in La Guaira province, which is one of the areas closest to the epicenter of the earthquake and suffered the most damage. A large portion of the international teams that came to support the country have completed their duties and started the withdrawal process to return to their countries. Sebastián Mocarquer, representative of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC), announced that the teams began to be demobilized as of 7 July. However, it is noted that teams from some Latin American countries that arrived in the region later are still continuing their work. It is stated that the main focus of these remaining teams is recovering bodies from the rubble alongside local forces.

While approximately 3,000 search and rescue experts from 31 different countries arrived in the country in the first moments of the disaster, this massive operation was carried out by 77 separate teams. The scale of the international intervention reveals how devastating the earthquake was for Venezuela and how a global solidarity network was mobilized. The gradual transfer of control of this operation, conducted under UN coordination, to the Venezuela Civil Defense units is considered a sign that the country has entered the process of returning to normal. It is known that up to 25 currently active teams continue their operations, but the operation is now entirely managed by local authorities. The transition process indicates that an effort is being made to re-establish the country's emergency management capacity.

Venezuela interim government head Delcy Rodríguez personally bid farewell to the teams returning to their countries, rewarding them with medals. So far, official farewell ceremonies have been held for teams from about 30 countries, including Spain, Germany, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Türkiye, and the Dominican Republic. These ceremonies stand out as a diplomatic and humanitarian gesture emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and solidarity during times of crisis. These events, where the teams leaving the field are announced to their countries, go down record as an official step of gratitude by the Venezuelan government regarding global support. In this context, it is emphasized that the rescue teams, including Türkiye, displayed a supreme effort in the region even at the stage when the hope of rescuing survivors was exhausted.

Despite nearly two weeks having passed since the disaster, this South American country on the Caribbean Sea coast faces a deep mourning and rebuilding process. According to the latest data announced as of 7 July, the number of people who lost their lives in the earthquake rose to 3.685, while the number of injured is around 16.740. Authorities have not yet made a detailed official statement regarding the severity of the injuries or which health centers the injured are being treated at. On the other hand, due to the collapse or severe damage of hospitals, emergency humanitarian aid calls are being made for surviving children in regions such as La Guaira. The society is not only mourning the loss of their loved ones but also preparing for a long and difficult period to repair the collapsed infrastructure and support the survivors.