The Miami-Dade Fire Department announced on Saturday that its elite unit, Florida Task Force 1, is preparing to depart for Venezuela. This activation, sanctioned by the U.S. State Department, positions the team as a response unit to the catastrophic earthquakes that struck the nation on June 24.
"From the moment we learned of this tragedy, our team has been on standby, ready to respond. Many in our community have family, friends, and loved ones in Venezuela, making this mission particularly meaningful," stated Miami-Dade Fire Rescue on their official account.
Florida Task Force 1 consists of 80 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Type I specialists, which includes six canine search teams.
The team operates across 19 specialized functional areas: command and control, technical search, structural assessment and stabilization, planning, advanced medical care, hazardous materials mitigation, tactical communications, logistics, safety, and technical rescue, among others.
On Saturday, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commissioner Bermúdez visited the team to provide encouragement and support before their deployment, an event that included a press conference in front of the official Florida Task Force 1 panel.
"Thanks to Mayor Daniella and Commissioner Bermúdez for taking the time to visit our team today, offering their encouragement and showing their support as we prepare to answer the call," noted the fire department.
The earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart, with the epicenter located in Yaracuy state. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) classified them as the most powerful recorded in the country since 1900.
As of the latest update, the official death toll stands at 920, with over 3,360 injured. The United Nations estimates that 6.76 million people have been affected, including nearly two million residents of Caracas.
A 4.9-magnitude aftershock was also recorded on Saturday, adding to more than 200 secondary movements since the disaster.
Among the missing are at least 29 Cubans, mainly in La Guaira, including two young siblings from Mayabeque.
The international response has been extensive, with over 16 countries sending aid and more than 1,000 rescuers deployed in Venezuela.
President Trump authorized $150 million in humanitarian assistance, while the U.S. Southern Command mobilized the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS Billings to support the rescue operations.
Florida Task Force 1 boasts a proven track record of international missions, having previously responded to earthquakes in Mexico, El Salvador, Armenia, the Philippines, Colombia, Turkey, and Haiti, as well as a prior deployment to Venezuela during the Cariaco earthquake in 1997.
Understanding the Miami-Dade Rescue Mission in Venezuela
What is the role of Florida Task Force 1 in international disasters?
Florida Task Force 1 is an elite urban search and rescue team with a history of responding to international disasters, providing specialized support in areas such as technical search, structural stabilization, and advanced medical care.
How significant was the earthquake in Venezuela?
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, were the most powerful in Venezuela since 1900, causing widespread devastation and affecting millions of people.
What assistance has the United States provided to Venezuela?
The U.S. has authorized $150 million in humanitarian aid and deployed naval resources to support ongoing rescue efforts in Venezuela.