Costa Rica has sent a rescue and humanitarian mission to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes left widespread damage, collapsed buildings and an urgent need for international search-and-rescue support. The first Costa Rican team, made up of 16 Red Cross specialists, left from Juan Santamaría International Airport to support emergency operations on the ground. The group includes personnel trained in search and rescue, collapsed-structure response, medical attention, paramedic care and logistics.
Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission (CNE) also announced a larger humanitarian deployment involving 48 specialized rescuers and 12 tons of rescue equipment and non-perishable food. The mission was ordered by President Laura Fernández as part of Costa Rica’s response to the disaster.
The Costa Rican Red Cross said the mission follows a request for international support from the Venezuelan Red Cross and is being coordinated through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The goal is to reinforce rescue operations in areas where teams are still searching through rubble and assisting affected families.
The earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday and caused severe damage in several areas, including Caracas and La Guaira, where buildings reportedly collapsed and thousands of people were affected. Casualty figures have continued to change as rescue crews reach damaged zones and authorities update reports.
President Laura Fernández spoke with Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, to express Costa Rica’s solidarity and confirm that San José would coordinate humanitarian support, including rescue personnel, equipment and supplies. “Costa Rica reaffirms its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and joins international efforts to respond to the emergency and save lives,” the CNE said.
The Costa Rican team includes members of USAR, or Urban Search and Rescue, a specialized unit trained to operate in collapsed structures, confined spaces and other high-risk disaster zones. These teams are often deployed when rescuers must locate survivors beneath debris, stabilize unsafe structures and extract people from difficult conditions.
For Costa Rica, the mission shows the long-standing role in international humanitarian response despite not having a military. Costa Rican emergency personnel have participated in past disaster-response missions abroad, often through the Red Cross, firefighters and specialized rescue units.
The Venezuela deployment also comes at a moment when the first 72 hours after a major earthquake are critical. International rescue teams typically race against time during that window, when the chances of finding survivors trapped under rubble are highest.
The aid shipment announced by the CNE is expected to include specialized rescue equipment and food supplies for communities affected by the disaster. Authorities said the mission is intended to strengthen Venezuela’s emergency response capacity as local teams confront collapsed structures, damaged infrastructure and growing humanitarian needs.
For those of us here in Costa Rican, the deployment is a reminder of the susceptibility to our own natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, landslides and volcanic activity. It also shows the importance of trained emergency teams that can respond both at home and abroad.
Keep in mind that the situation in Venezuela remains fluid, with rescue operations ongoing and international support continuing to arrive from multiple countries. Costa Rica has not ruled out additional coordination depending on the needs identified by Venezuelan and international relief agencies.
As the mission moves forward, Costa Rica’s role will be focused on search and rescue, emergency medical support, logistics and humanitarian assistance for communities hit hardest by the earthquakes.
