One of two Lithuanian international rescue teams deployed to earthquake-hit Venezuela returned to Vilnius on Monday after completing search-and-rescue operations, with the team’s commander describing extreme heat as the mission’s greatest challenge.
“I am glad the team returned safely,” team leader Gediminas Šukšta told reporters. “The plans we had during the mission changed constantly. We even joked that during the course of a day, Plan A could become Plan B, C or D, and sometimes there weren’t enough letters.”
Šukšta said the rescuers’ commitment never wavered, but the tropical climate forced them to adapt their operations.
“Our biggest enemy was the heat, constant heat from early morning,” he said. “It caused various health issues and cases of overheating.”
To reduce the risks, the team altered its work schedule, allowing some rescuers to rest while others worked. The team also found air-conditioned facilities near its base where personnel could recover between operations.
