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The Cuban Medical Brigade in Venezuela released this Monday the first photographs of Cuban rescuers working among the rubble of La Guaira.
The images show several members of the Special Rescue and Salvage Brigade wearing vests labeled «SALVAMENTO» and «RESCATE CUBA», yellow and red helmets, and several search dogs working on the debris.
The Cuban contingent arrived in Venezuela on Sunday and was welcomed in Caracas by the Venezuelan Deputy Minister for Latin America, Mauricio Rodríguez, and the Cuban ambassador Jorge Mayo Fernández. It includes three dogs specialized in locating people under debris.
The official publication accompanied the photographs with a promotional text: "There, where pain tries to gain ground, rises the strength of our Cuban rescue and salvage brigade in La Guaira. Supportive hands that do not understand distances when it comes to saving lives."
The dissemination of these images occurs at a time when the Cuban regime is facing criticism for its handling of the situation regarding its own citizens who have gone missing in Venezuela.
At least 30 Cubans are reported as missing under the rubble in areas such as Caraballeda, Catia La Mar, and Los Corales, as documented by citizen platforms like "Encuéntralos."
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, refused for days to officially acknowledge those disappearances.
The Director General of Consular Affairs, Ana Teresita González Fraga, stated on June 27 that "so far we do not have official confirmation" of compatriots injured, deceased, or missing.
On June 28, the death of a Cuban family of six —Alain Rodríguez Rojas, Yadina de la Caridad Yáñez, Teresa Rojas Rodríguez, Raudel Diosdado Rodríguez, Dylan Xander Rodríguez Yáñez, and Gladys María Padrón— was confirmed, found deceased under the rubble.
On that same day, the death of the girl Vanessa Martínez, from Melena del Sur, was also confirmed at the Coral Beach building in Los Corales. Her brother Dayán, aged 10, is still missing.
The Cuban official Abel Prieto, an advisor to the regime and president of Casa de las Américas, took the opportunity on June 27 to criticize the humanitarian deployment by the United States, which included rescuers from Miami-Dade, K-9 dogs, and 150 million dollars in aid, describing them as "humanitarian Rambos."
The earthquakes of June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 and an epicenter in the Yaracuy state, occurring just 39 seconds apart, are the most destructive recorded in Venezuela since 1900.
The official balance at the close of this Monday stands at 1,719 deceased and more than 5,034 injured, while the UN estimates up to 50,000 missing persons.
In total, more than 2,624 international rescuers from multiple countries are operating in Venezuela, with 137 rescue dogs and 49 support vehicles.
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