Vietnamese military working dogs excel in Venezuela quake rescue mission

As Venezuela grappled with the devastating aftermath of the earthquake, Vietnam deployed a multidisciplinary search-and-rescue contingent, including a specialised military working dog unit tasked with locating victims buried under collapsed structures.

Operating in hazardous conditions marked by unstable debris and the constant risk of further collapse, the dogs became an essential component of the rescue effort, working alongside engineers and technical specialists to identify areas requiring excavation.

Military working dogs enhance search efficiency

In post-earthquake environments, locating victims beneath layers of concrete and rubble is one of the most challenging aspects of urban search and rescue. Combining advanced equipment with the dogs’ highly developed sense of smell significantly improved the speed and accuracy of search operations.

Throughout the mission, the Vietnamese military working dog team repeatedly detected scent sources at suspected locations, enabling rescue personnel to narrow search areas quickly and reduce the time required for excavation.

Thanks to their endurance and precision, the dogs helped identify dozens of potential victim locations, allowing search teams to recover bodies more efficiently.

After five days of operations in La Guaira State, the Vietnamese rescue contingent recovered 54 victims from collapsed buildings and handed the remains over to Venezuelan authorities.

Officials said the military working dog team played a particularly important role during the initial stages of the operation, when information was limited and ground conditions were highly unstable. Their ability to identify likely burial sites helped improve coordination among international rescue teams working at the disaster scene.

Recognition from Venezuelan authorities

The performance of Vietnam's military working dogs received high praise from Venezuelan authorities.

According to interim president Rodriguez Gomez, the dogs demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in locating victims beneath collapsed structures, making them one of the best-performing canine teams among the international rescue contingents deployed after the earthquake.

Authorities noted that the dogs’ rapid and accurate detection capabilities significantly improved the chances of locating victims in an environment where rescue operations were complicated by unstable terrain and continuing safety risks.

Vietnam’s canine search team (K9) comprised ten handlers and eight military working dogs from Border Guard Intermediate School No. 24 under the Vietnam Border Guard Command.

Several dogs, including Xukip, participated directly in search operations at priority sites and were credited with making significant contributions to locating victims.

Following days of continuous operations under harsh conditions, the dogs received dedicated care from their handlers and support from local residents as well as members of the Vietnamese delegation in Venezuela.

In recognition of their contributions, several of the military working dogs were awarded the Medal of Merit by Venezuelan authorities for their role in earthquake search-and-rescue operations.

Humanitarian commitment beyond rescue

Alongside search operations, the Vietnamese rescue contingent also provided humanitarian assistance to residents affected by the disaster in Playa Grande, distributing essential supplies including food, face masks and daily necessities.

These activities highlighted Vietnam’s commitment not only to professional disaster response but also to humanitarian solidarity and international cooperation.

The mission also underscored the growing role of military working dogs in modern urban search-and-rescue operations. By combining specialised training with close coordination between handlers and rescue personnel, Vietnam’s K9 unit demonstrated how advanced canine capabilities can significantly improve disaster response while reinforcing the country’s reputation as a reliable contributor to international humanitarian missions.

Vietnamese rescue team recovers 54 bodies from earthquake rubble in Venezuela

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s rescue team in Venezuela recovered nine more bodies from earthquake rubble in Playa Grande, La Guaira state, on July 4 (local time), bringing the total number of victims found to 54.