Burnaby search and rescue members on way to Venezuela to help with earthquake recovery

Members of Burnaby's Urban Search and Rescue team at the airport Saturday. The volunteers are going to Venezuela to help with rescue and medical aid following two massive earthquakes. Photo by Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue

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Members of Burnaby’s Urban Search and Rescue, including search dogs, left early Saturday for Venezuela to help with rescue efforts following several deadly earthquakes.

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The team’s president Ryan Berry said the seven members, along with two search K9s, named Pele and Reuben, are all full-time local first responders including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

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All of them are volunteering their time.

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Two powerful 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, toppling buildings and killing hundreds of people and injuring thousands.

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By Friday afternoon, authorities reported nearly 3,400 injured people and a death toll approaching 1,000 countrywide. More than 200 aftershocks had occurred and thousands of people are missing.

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Rather than joining other Metro Vancouver search and rescue teams, Burnaby first responders are deploying in partnership with the international NGOs Sol Relief, Haiti Air Ambulance, and Airlink, Berry said.

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They will also be joining other international K9 and USAR teams once on the ground, he added.

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“We’re flying into Venezuela this morning and expect to be on the ground for about a week, though that can change depending on conditions and the needs there,” said Berry early Saturday morning.

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“The plan today is to get our team and dogs registered and checked in with the on-site co-ordination centre, then meet with incident command to confirm where they want us. From there we’ll be focused on search and rescue, medical aid, and assessing the hardest-hit areas.”

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He said the situation there is moving quickly and the plan can change at a moment’s notice, so “what we expect this morning may look different by this afternoon.”

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The health care centres in Venezuela’s coastal state of La Guaira are overwhelmed, with survivors suffering crush injuries and several fractures after being pulled from collapsed buildings.

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Much of this work helping earthquake victims comes from charitable donations because the team is made up of volunteers. Anyone who wants to support Burnaby’s efforts can donate at burnabyusar.ca.

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Members of the Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue Team left for Venezuela Saturday morning. Photo: Screenshot from video provided by Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue.

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Meriely Arias, vice-president of the Venezuelan Canadian Society of B.C., said community members are still processing this disaster and haven’t planned a vigil.

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“We haven’t heard of any community members missing friends or family, but the immense devastation suggests it’s possible,” said Arias.

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The society has launched a fundraising campaign and is working with other Venezuelan organizations in Canada to help out.

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“Our hearts are with everyone affected by this devastating earthquake in Venezuela,” the society said in a news release. “During moments like these our thoughts are especially with those who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured, and the families now facing uncertainty and hardship.”

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With files from Bloomberg News

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