The team, made up of 124 personnel from the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam People's Public Security Force, expanded search operations on the fourth day of its mission while working closely with other rescue units. It has now recovered a total of 45 bodies from the disaster site.
One of the most challenging operations has focused on the remains of a collapsed eight story apartment building. Rescue teams had previously concluded, after assessing the site, that one victim was still trapped inside. However, both local and foreign rescuers agreed that recovering the victim was highly unlikely because unstable conditions and the weakened structure posed a constant risk of further collapse.
Despite the dangers, the Vietnamese rescue team has continued its search efforts. The team remains on site, closely monitoring conditions and continuing operations in an effort to locate the remaining victim.
Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Rescue and Salvage Department under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and head of the Vietnamese rescue mission, read a letter of commendation from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang to the team.
In the letter, General Giang praised the rescuers for their sense of responsibility, while commending their contributions to the earthquake relief operation in Venezuela.
