SPAIN has sent more rescue personnel to earthquake-devastated Venezuela than any other country in the European Union, as the confirmed death toll climbs past 1,430.
Ninety-seven members of Spain’s Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME), accompanied by four rescue dogs, are now operating in Venezuela — ranking Spain fifth globally among 28 nations that have mobilised teams to the disaster zone, and first among all EU members.
Their work has already produced one of the most dramatic rescues of the entire operation: a survivor pulled alive from the collapsed Vistamar residential complex in La Guaira, more than 72 hours after the earthquakes struck.
Two tremors tore through Venezuela’s northwest on June 24 just 39 seconds apart — a magnitude 7.2, then a magnitude 7.5.
Both struck near San Felipe in Yaracuy state and the town of Yumare, sending shockwaves through La Guaira and Caracas and bringing down buildings across both cities.
Venezuela’s government has confirmed 1,430 dead and 3,238 injured. The UN puts the number of missing at more than 50,000 — a figure Caracas disputes.
The US Geological Survey’s PAGER system has warned the final death toll could exceed 100,000.
Economic damage is estimated at between $4.7 billion and $8.7 billion, equivalent to between 4% and 8% of Venezuela’s entire GDP.
Spain’s first Air Force flight departed on June 26, carrying 59 UME personnel, two Army engineers and eight canine units.
The deployment has since grown to 97 rescue workers and four dogs.
Alongside the UME, Spain’s development agency the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) sent psychologists, humanitarian needs assessors and an offer of a field hospital.
Six Spanish nationals have been confirmed dead in the disaster, with a further 133 still missing.
King Felipe VI publicly expressed solidarity with Venezuela, describing it as ‘a very beloved country’.
In the global ranking compiled by intelligence monitoring account IntelSchizo — tracking 28 nations and 2,140 personnel — Spain trails only the United States (312 personnel), El Salvador (300), Mexico (261) and Jordan (100).
The Czech Republic leads the next tier of EU nations with 70, ahead of the Netherlands on 64, France on 65 and Germany on 48. The UK has sent 68 personnel.
With more than 50,000 people still unaccounted for and the USGS warning the toll could reach six figures, the operation is far from over.
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