FAB rescues 13 Brazilians after earthquake closes airports in Venezuela

The Brazilian government transported, this Sunday (28), 13 Brazilian citizens who were passing through Venezuela and had sought the Brazilian Embassy in Caracas on an emergency basis.

According to the government, Brazilians sought support after the closure of the commercial airport in the Venezuelan capital, amid the impacts of the earthquakes that hit the country.

"The transport was carried out using the aircraft that took humanitarian aid to the neighboring country and returned empty to Brazil", says Itamaraty in a note.

The operation takes place in the context of the humanitarian mission sent by the Brazilian government to support the Venezuelan authorities in their response to the earthquakes.

Brazil has already confirmed four support flights to the neighboring country, sending search and rescue teams, a field hospital, water purifiers, medicines and military firefighters.

The Brazilian teams operate mainly in the municipality of Vargas, in the state of La Guaira, one of the regions most affected by the tremors.

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