Region's firefighters respond to Venezuela quakes

Firefighters from the West Midlands are joining search and rescue teams in Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes which have killed more than 920.

Two powerful quakes rocked the country within seconds of each other on Wednesday. The second, at a magnitude of 7.5, was one of the strongest to hit there in a century.

Seven volunteers from the West Midlands brigade and a search dog, Luna, are being deployed following a request for assistance through the UK Foreign Office.

Chief fire officer Simon Tuhill said: "Their skills are amongst the best in the world, which is why I know they will be doing so much to assist those in need."

The Venezuelan government said more than 3,360 had been confirmed injured in the quakes.

Almost 2,000 international rescue workers have already responded to the call for help, the United Nations said.

Rescuers continue to search for survivors while the injured are treated in makeshift medical facilities after dozens of buildings in the country's north, including capital Caracas, were destroyed.

Specialist international search and rescue, medical and humanitarian aid teams have arrived to assist since the country declared a state of emergency.

The West Midlands volunteers are part of UK ISAR (UK Fire and Rescue International Search and Rescue), which sent personnel from the region to help following earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco in 2023.

The force, which serves residents across Birmingham and the Black Country, Wolverhampton and Coventry, is among UK fire services sending staff to support the international response.

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