{"id":14279,"date":"2026-06-29T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=14279"},"modified":"2026-06-28T10:11:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T15:11:27","slug":"first-rescue-teams-to-earthquake-hit-venezuela-arrived-from-panama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/first-rescue-teams-to-earthquake-hit-venezuela-arrived-from-panama\/","title":{"rendered":"First Rescue Teams to Earthquake-Hit Venezuela Arrived from Panama"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Panama has launched a major relief operation for Venezuela following a devastating earthquake. The first shipments of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oas.org\/en\/topics\/venezuela\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Humanitarian aid to Venezuela<\/a> arrived Saturday at Maiquetia Simon Bolivar Airport outside Caracas. A team of 50 rescuers and two canine units departed Panama City on June 27 to join the search for survivors trapped in collapsed structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The operation marks one of the largest international rescue missions coordinated by Panama in recent years. Officials confirmed that 17 tons of food and essential supplies have already been shipped by sea. A separate airlift is being organized for additional provisions collected at donation centers across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DaG5YKUiUF-\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DaG5YKUiUF-\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DaG5YKUiUF-\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by c4_noticias507_ (@c4_noticias507_)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First Lady&#8217;s office staff managed the collection drive at <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/health\/panama-health-ministry-sets-vaccination-station-at-omar-park-family-fair\/\" rel=\"internal\">Omar Park<\/a> in Panama City. Local residents and foreign nationals contributed non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene products, clothing, and toilet paper. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming, forcing organizers to temporarily suspend new donations until existing supplies are sorted and dispatched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;The solidarity of the Panamanian people has been extraordinary. We are coordinating with multiple government agencies to ensure aid reaches those who need it most as quickly as possible&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Agricultural Marketing Institute mobilized trucks to transport donations to the port for maritime shipment. State entities including the National Police and Transit Operations Directorate have provided escorts for supply convoys heading to Panama Pacifico Airport. The logistical chain continues operating through the Humanitarian Hub, where donations are organized on pallets for outgoing flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/panama-sends-first-rescue-team-to-venezuela-1200x721-1-1024x615.webp\" alt=\"Panama sends first rescue team to Venezuela\" class=\"wp-image-14238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/panama-sends-first-rescue-team-to-venezuela-1200x721-1-1024x615.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/panama-sends-first-rescue-team-to-venezuela-1200x721-1-300x180.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/panama-sends-first-rescue-team-to-venezuela-1200x721-1-768x461.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/panama-sends-first-rescue-team-to-venezuela-1200x721-1-150x90.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/panama-sends-first-rescue-team-to-venezuela-1200x721-1-450x270.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/panama-sends-first-rescue-team-to-venezuela-1200x721-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Panama sends first rescue team to Venezuela<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rescue Teams Deploy to Collapse Sites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first rescue unit arrived at Maiquetia Simon Bolivar Airport late Friday night. Panamanian Consul Susana Thornhill greeted the team upon landing. They registered immediately with the United Nations Reception and Departure Center before joining search efforts at collapsed building sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second group of specialists landed Saturday evening. The National Aeronaval Service deployed nine members from its Search and Rescue Department, all trained in collapsed structure operations. One rescue paramedic also joined the mission. The AN-255 C212 AVIOCAR aircraft and its crew remain stationed at the airport, providing 25 flight hours for logistical support, transport of supplies, and movement of rescue personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sim%C3%B3n_Bol%C3%ADvar_International_Airport_(Venezuela)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Maiquetia Simon Bolivar Airport<\/a> has become the central hub for international relief efforts. Consular staff coordinated pickup of 34 people who arrived in Valencia via a COPA commercial flight Thursday evening. The <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2026_United_States_intervention_in_Venezuela\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panama-Venezuela rescue operation<\/a> continues expanding as additional teams prepare to deploy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ministry of Public Security also conducted collection drives for essential items. Authorities are now searching for additional warehouse space to handle the volume of donations. The emergency response remains active as rescue crews work around the clock to locate survivors beneath the rubble.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Panama has launched a major relief operation for Venezuela following a devastating earthquake. The first shipments of Humanitarian aid to Venezuela arrived Saturday at Maiquetia Simon Bolivar Airport outside Caracas. A team of 50 rescuers and two canine units departed Panama City on June 27 to join the search for survivors trapped in collapsed structures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29,34],"tags":[555,5056,5055,5024],"class_list":["post-14279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics-government","category-living","tag-humanitarian-aid","tag-humanitarian-aid-venezuela","tag-panama-sends-rescue-teams","tag-venezuela-earthquake"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14279"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14280,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14279\/revisions\/14280"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}