A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft touched down in Venezuela this Friday, delivering the first batch of equipment to support two specialized urban search and rescue (USAR) teams. These teams will join relief efforts following the catastrophic earthquakes that struck on June 24.
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas confirmed the arrival of the equipment, noting that the teams—originating from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California—are preparing to move into the hardest-hit areas as soon as conditions allow.
Each team comprises approximately 80 experts, including firefighters, medical personnel, and structural engineers, along with 12 trained dogs specialized in locating people trapped under debris.
"The initial shipment of equipment has arrived to support the U.S. specialized search and rescue teams, who are deploying to Venezuela to integrate promptly into on-the-ground operations. With about 80 specialists per team, including firefighters, doctors, and structural engineers, as well as 12 trained dogs for debris detection, these groups provide advanced capabilities for locating survivors and supporting complex emergencies," stated the embassy on its official channel.
On Thursday night, Major General Kevin J. Jarrard of the U.S. Marine Corps arrived in Caracas to oversee on-site efforts by the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), marking the highest-ranking military officer to operate in Venezuela in decades.
"With unmatched speed, precision, and logistical capability, U.S. teams are deploying to support response operations after the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. We remain committed to Venezuela," the embassy announced upon his arrival.
U.S. Military Mobilization
The deployment also includes C-130 aircraft and CH-47 Chinook helicopters mobilized from Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, alongside MV-22 Osprey aircraft from the Marines.
The U.S. response comes in the wake of a disaster of historic proportions. The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and separated by just 39 seconds, struck Venezuela on June 24, with epicenters in Yaracuy state. The official toll stands at 589 dead and 2,980 injured, as confirmed by interim president Delcy Rodríguez—a figure that tripled within just 24 hours.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) labeled the 7.5 quake as the most powerful recorded in Venezuela since 1900 and issued its highest-level Red Alert.
At least 346 structures, including hospitals and shopping centers, were either collapsed or severely damaged, with over 200 aftershocks recorded. La Guaira state has been declared a natural disaster zone, bearing the brunt of the damage.
Humanitarian Aid and Diplomatic Shifts
President Donald Trump authorized $150 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuela, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized a critical 48 to 72-hour window for locating survivors under the rubble.
In an unprecedented diplomatic move, Rodríguez publicly thanked Trump and Rubio for their support—a gesture unimaginable during Nicolás Maduro's administration, which notably rejected U.S. humanitarian aid in 2019.
The USAR teams from Fairfax and Los Angeles are elite units certified by the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), with experience in disasters like the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside, Florida, in 2021.
Key Questions About U.S. Earthquake Relief Efforts in Venezuela
What type of U.S. military aircraft was used to deliver equipment to Venezuela?
A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft was used to deliver the initial batch of equipment to Venezuela.
Who is leading the U.S. military efforts in Venezuela?
Major General Kevin J. Jarrard of the U.S. Marine Corps is leading the on-site coordination of the Southern Command's efforts in Venezuela.
How many specialists are part of each U.S. search and rescue team?
Each U.S. search and rescue team consists of around 80 specialists, including firefighters, medical personnel, and structural engineers, as well as 12 specially trained dogs.