MADRID, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Ministry of Defence decided to send 54 members of its Military Emergency Unit (UME) to Venezuela on Thursday to assist rescue operations after two powerful earthquakes caused widespread damage and loss of life in the country, according to local media reports.
The UME personnel were scheduled to depart from Torrejon Air Base, on the outskirts of Madrid, at 9:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). They will support the search for survivors after the two earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, left tens of thousands of people still unaccounted for.
The reports said the Spanish expedition included rescue dogs "highly specialized in the search, localization and rescue of people in natural disasters and collapses." Spain will also send rescue equipment and emergency supplies to Venezuela.
Before the expedition was due to depart, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on social media saying he had talked with the Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez, expressing Spain's solidarity with the Venezuelan people and affection for the victims and their families.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said 68 Spanish nationals in Venezuela had yet to contact the Spanish consulate.
Several rescue units from fire brigades across Spain are also preparing to travel to Venezuela in the coming hours, the reports added. ■