Overview
- Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, and official tallies put the death toll at 3,342 with 16,740 injured.
- More than 120 search-and-rescue dogs from about a dozen countries were deployed to La Guaira to locate survivors in the initial, time-critical days after the quakes.
- Handlers say dogs detect humans by temperature, body odor and exhaled carbon dioxide, with teams using a second dog to confirm alerts and radars or cameras to refine exact locations.
- Peru’s USAR dog Kaira and the labrador Piper were credited with locating trapped people during the mission, and teams reported extreme heat, hazardous rubble and special protective gear to protect animals and handlers.
- Operations continue in parts of the zone even as some international units debrief and prepare to leave, and Venezuelan sources reported official recognition for the Peruvian canine team.