Lithuanian rescuers return from Venezuela with “invaluable experience”

One of Lithuania’s two international rescue teams has returned to Vilnius after completing a mission in Venezuela, LRT reports.

Gediminas Šukšta, the team leader, described the mission as challenging due to extreme heat and difficult working conditions. “We were happy to return safely. Our plans often changed—sometimes from plan A to B, C, D, and beyond,” he told journalists. The team adjusted their workflow, allowing members to rest in air-conditioned spaces near their base to avoid overheating.

The rescuers conducted search operations in eight locations, recovering seven bodies. Their final effort, which lasted until early Thursday, involved a potential sign of life detected by both rescue dogs and equipment. However, the indication was not confirmed.

Šukšta noted that the scale of destruction in Venezuela was greater than in Turkey in 2023, where the team had previously operated. In Venezuela, many buildings collapsed completely, leaving little chance of survival. “In Turkey, we could expect to find people alive due to voids in the rubble. Here, most structures pancaked, making survival nearly impossible,” he explained.

Two medical team members remain in Venezuela to continue emergency response work. Acting Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius said Lithuania would consider sending another team if requested.

Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre, stated that the experience gained was “invaluable” and would be shared with other teams and younger specialists. “Humanitarian aid is the most important, but real-world experience cannot be replaced by any drill,” he said.