Published on Wednesday, July 8, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

A contingent of 64 Costa Rican rescue workers, including firefighters and Red Cross specialists, concluded their humanitarian rescue mission in Venezuela on Wednesday after twin earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 devastated the South American nation in June.

According to authorities, the final group to return home consisted of 16 Red Cross rescue specialists, who arrived Wednesday at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela Province.

A team of 48 firefighters from the Costa Rican Fire Department's specialized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit had returned to the country on Sunday.

The Costa Rican rescue teams had been operating in Venezuela since June 27, using a logistics base established at Jorge Luis García Carneiro Stadium in La Guaira Department, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquakes.

Working around the clock, the rescuers conducted search-and-rescue operations, cleared debris, recovered victims' bodies, rescued pets and provided humanitarian assistance to survivors.

One of the mission's most significant achievements, which drew international attention, was the rescue of a survivor who spent eight days trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed seven-story building.

The survivor, Hernán Gil, 43, was found buried beneath the debris after the building collapsed in the Catia La Mar district. Gil had been working the night shift as a security guard when part of the structure gave way, trapping him inside his security booth beneath the wreckage.

Costa Rican rescuers worked continuously for several days before successfully freeing him.

As the mission concluded, Red Cross officials described the severe physical and emotional toll on the Costa Rican rescue teams, who endured exhausting workdays, constant anxiety and the emotional strain of responding to widespread devastation caused by the collapse of countless buildings.

Costa Rica's humanitarian assistance to earthquake victims in Venezuela is continuing. The National Emergency Commission (CNE) is collecting donations of food, diapers for children and older adults, and other essential supplies for children and senior citizens. Donations are being accepted at fire stations across Costa Rica.


Authorities said the donated supplies have been transported to Venezuela aboard DHL cargo flights.


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that no Costa Rican citizens were killed or injured in the earthquakes.


Officials urged Costa Rican citizens living in Venezuela who wish to leave the country to contact the Consulate General of Costa Rica in Colombia at +57 313 841 3850 or the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in San José at (506) 2359-5360.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the disaster began on Wednesday, June 24, when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck at approximately 6:04 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located about 16 miles from the city of San Felipe in Venezuela's Yaracuy state.

Less than a minute later, a stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck about 19 miles from San Felipe, a city of approximately 220,000 residents.

Venezuela National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said Monday that at least 3,500 people had been confirmed dead. Government figures show that more than 16,740 people were injured, nearly 800,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, approximately 17,800 people were left homeless, and tens of thousands remain missing.

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Have you heard from expatriates living in Venezuela who were affected by the earthquakes? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com