President Peter Pellegrini has honoured Slovak firefighters and mountain rescuers who took part in the international rescue mission following the devastating earthquake in Venezuela.
At a reception in the Presidential Palace, Pellegrini praised their professionalism, courage and dedication, saying they had become ambassadors of solidarity, humanity and Slovakia's willingness to help those in need. He also highlighted the close cooperation between international rescue teams during the operation. The 20-member Slovak team, supported by four rescue dogs, spent five days working in the earthquake-hit region alongside more than 700 rescuers from 19 countries before returning home on Sunday.
Team commander Zdenko Gašparík said the mission provided valuable experience and left a positive impression on the local population. He noted that the team had to operate in extremely challenging conditions, including unstable terrain, high temperatures and limited infrastructure. According to him, cooperation with foreign teams was highly effective, allowing them to share expertise and improve rescue techniques in real time. Gašparík also emphasised that beyond the technical aspects of the mission, the human dimension was just as important, as rescuers provided not only physical assistance but also emotional support to affected residents.
Source: TASR
