Brazil confirms fourth flight with humanitarian aid to Venezuela
The Brazilian government confirmed this Saturday (27) the sending of a fourth humanitarian flight to Venezuela, in support of response operations to the earthquakes that hit the country and caused extensive destruction in Caracas and other cities since last Wednesday (24).
The aircraft is expected to depart this Sunday afternoon (28) from the Guarulhos Air Base, in São Paulo, with 35 military firefighters from the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
The professionals will reinforce the Brazilian teams that already operate mainly in the municipality of Vargas, in the state of La Guaira, one of the areas most affected by the tremors.
According to the federal government, the Brazilian humanitarian mission began this Saturday (27), shortly after arriving in Venezuela, operations to support local authorities. The team is coordinated by the director of Preparedness and Relief at National Civil Defense, Armin Braun.
Despite logistical difficulties, the Brazilians rescued at least two people alive and are working to rescue a child under the rubble, according to the statement. Operations are ongoing.
The first Brazilian team sent to support the emergency response took off on Friday (26), from Guarulhos Air Base, on a FAB KC-390 Millennium aircraft. The plane landed at 11:40 pm, Brasília time, at the Venezuelan Air Force El Libertador Military Base, in Maracay.
The second flight departed this Saturday (27), at 11:50 am, from Galeão Air Base, in Rio de Janeiro, with a field hospital and water purifiers. The expected arrival was at 10pm, Brasília time.
The third flight also took off on Saturday, at 5:45 pm, with medication kits and a complementary module for the installation of a field hospital. The expected arrival time was 10:40 pm, Brasília time.
The operation is coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, followed by around 20 aftershocks, caused building collapses in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities. According to information released by the country's authorities, at least 1,400 people died. The number of victims could still increase as search and rescue operations progress.
Given the gravity of the situation, Venezuelan authorities declared a national state of emergency and appealed to the international community for humanitarian assistance.
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Source: CNN