Venezuela Awards Hero Medals to Vietnamese Rescue Team

The Government of Venezuela awarded the first-class Hero of Venezuela medal to a 124-member Vietnamese rescue and relief team on July 6, 2026. This honor recognizes the team's response to two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, that struck on June 24 and primarily affected Caracas and La Guaira State. The disasters resulted in 3,535 deaths and 16,770 injuries.

Deployed on June 28, the Vietnamese delegation—comprising personnel from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security—delivered 40 metric tons of equipment and eight search-and-rescue dogs. The team recovered 57 victims and provided emergency supplies to approximately 500 families. In addition to personnel, the government and people of Vietnam provided $300,000 in emergency humanitarian aid.

Recognition of these efforts began on July 3, when Acting President Delcy Rodriguez visited the Vietnamese base and sent a letter of gratitude and a Hero of Venezuela medal to Vietnamese State President To Lam. During the July 6 ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Raul Serrano Chacon presented the first-class medal to the team, second-class medals to individual members, and a Medal of Merit to the search-and-rescue dog unit.