Panama has completed its first humanitarian flight carrying 18 tonnes of emergency supplies to Venezuela and is preparing to deploy a specialised search and rescue team of approximately 60 personnel following devastating earthquakes that struck the South American country on Wednesday, killing at least 920 people and injuring more than 3,360.

Panama's Humanitarian Response

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino confirmed the first aid flight in a post on X on Friday (local time). 'Thanks to the Panamanian solidarity, donations are being collected, and a first flight with 18 tonnes of aid has been completed,' Mulino said. Requested supplies include nonperishable food, bottled water, personal hygiene items, basic medical supplies, flashlights, batteries, and other emergency essentials for affected families.

Specialised Search and Rescue Team Being Deployed

Panama's national civil protection system is preparing to dispatch a rescue contingent led by its director, Omar Smith. Smith said the team comprises around 60 specialised personnel and four trained search dogs. The contingent will be equipped with drones, thermal-imaging equipment, and personnel trained to handle chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear scenarios. According to local media, the initial operation is planned for seven days, with the possibility of extension depending on conditions on the ground. A second aircraft carrying additional rescue personnel may be coordinated if the situation demands it.

International Aid Pouring Into Venezuela

Technical and humanitarian assistance from more than a dozen countries has begun arriving in Venezuela since Thursday to support victims and early recovery efforts. Nations including India, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Qatar, as well as the UN system, have dispatched rescue teams and specialised equipment to the affected region.

Scale of the Disaster

Wednesday's earthquakes inflicted severe damage along Venezuela's central coast, with the official toll standing at at least 920 dead and more than 3,360 injured as of the latest report. Infrastructure across the affected zone has been severely compromised, complicating rescue and relief operations. This is among the deadliest seismic events to strike Venezuela in recent decades, drawing one of the largest coordinated international responses the country has seen.

What Comes Next

With the search window typically narrowing sharply after the first 72 hours, the arrival of thermal-imaging drones and trained rescue dogs from Panama and other nations will be critical in the days ahead. Relief coordinators are expected to assess whether the operation needs to be scaled up beyond the initial seven-day window as the full extent of the damage becomes clearer.