The first flight with 76 Spaniards repatriated from Venezuela landed at the Torrejón base in Madrid, following the earthquake that caused nine deaths and 131 missing among Spanish citizens. On board were also 20 people of other nationalities. This operation shows the activation of consular resources to assist those affected, although the humanitarian crisis remains open with many families in suspense over the fate of their loved ones.
Rescue technology: satellites and drones in the search for the missing 🛰️
To locate the 131 missing individuals, emergency teams deploy technology such as drones with thermal cameras and satellite geolocation systems. These devices allow scanning hard-to-reach areas and detecting body heat under the rubble. Additionally, collaborative mapping applications are used to coordinate brigades in real time. The precision of these systems is key to optimizing resources and speeding up rescue operations in a devastated terrain.
Meanwhile, the consulate improvises a call center with cold coffee ☕
While satellites search for signs of life, the Spanish consulate in Caracas has set up a telephone assistance center that runs on cold coffee and volunteers on the verge of collapse. Families call desperately, and officials respond with a classic: we are verifying the information. The most ironic thing is that the repatriation flight arrived with more journalists than affected people, and the only one who didn't lose their luggage was the ambassador. Bureaucracy, as always, travels business class.