29/06/2026 15:30 - Actualidad
Amidst the devastation left by the earthquakes in Venezuela, a story of hope emerges thanks to Bart, a search and rescue dog from the Argentine contingent who managed to locate two minors alive trapped under the rubble.
The discovery occurred this Sunday, June 29, 2026 during search operations in La Guaira state, the area most severely affected by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck the Venezuelan northern coast on Wednesday, June 24.
According to the Argentine Ministry of Defense, the rescue team was heading to another search point when they received an urgent request from Venezuela's Civil Protection: they had detected signs of people trapped under a collapsed structure.
Bart entered a tunnel opened in the structure and marked a positive presence, signaling the exact spot where the victims were located. That signal allowed rescuers to redirect the excavation to the correct point.
"The dog marked a positive presence and allowed redirecting the search and orienting the excavation towards the correct location."
Argentine marines began carefully removing debris until they managed to rescue the two children alive. After the operation, Venezuelan authorities recognized the work of the animal and the Argentine team.
The Argentine contingent is part of an international deployment to assist earthquake victims. The Ministry of Defense activated a humanitarian assistance operation that includes:
The contingent arrived in Caracas on June 27, 2026 at 2:30 AM and deployed in Caraballeda, La Guaira state.
The earthquakes of Wednesday, June 24, 2026 caused one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes in Latin America in recent years. According to the latest official report:
La Guaira state is the most affected, with 774 damaged buildings (189 with total damage and 585 with partial damage). There are also 38 affected hospitals and 44 damaged shopping centers.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry activated a humanitarian consular mission:
Deputy Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno sent two diplomatic officials to assess needs and facilitate documentation.
Rescue operations continue against the clock in Venezuela. Authorities assured that the search will not stop until all possible survivors are found.
Sources: La Capital | El Doce | Argentine Ministry of Defense
Alfredo S. Quiroga