29/06/2026 03:49 - Actualidad
Amidst the devastation left by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, a story emerges that moves the world: that of Tsunami, a border collie who was rescued from abandonment and abuse, and has now become a fundamental piece in the search for survivors.
Tsunami is a border collie dog who is part of the Center for Training of Canine Intervention Teams in Disasters (K-SAR ECID), an organization founded by Venezuelan rescuer Jorge Beens. Before becoming a hero, this animal went through a dramatic reality: he was a victim of abandonment and abuse until he was rescued and began a recovery process that would change his destiny forever.
Note: The border collie breed is considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world, originally developed in the Scottish borders for herding sheep. Their exceptional intelligence and keen sense of smell make them ideal for search and rescue work.
One of the most moving cases occurred at Residencias Rita, located in the San Bernardino parish of Caracas (the capital city of Venezuela). There, Tsunami marked the exact location where an elderly person remained trapped, allowing rescuers to focus their efforts on that point until successfully completing the rescue alive.
The mission in Venezuela is not Tsunami's first. Along with his handler, he was part of the teams that traveled to Turkey after the devastating earthquakes of 2023. He also participated in search operations during the landslides that occurred in Las Tejerías and El Castaño, in the state of Aragua, Venezuela.
Although technology has incorporated drones, thermal cameras, and sensors to assist in search operations, specialists emphasize that the binomials formed by dogs and their handlers remain an irreplaceable tool during the first hours after a disaster.
Thanks to their extraordinary sense of smell (which is between 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than humans), these animals can detect the presence of people under tons of earth and concrete, guiding the work of rescuers and significantly increasing the chances of finding survivors alive.
Tsunami's story reminded many Venezuelans of the work done by Orion, the rottweiler who became a symbol of rescue operations during the Vargas tragedy of 1999, when heavy rains caused landslides that left thousands of victims. More than two decades later, Tsunami represents a new generation of specialized dogs that continue to play an essential role in emergencies.
Historical context: The Vargas tragedy was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Venezuelan history, occurring on December 15, 1999, when torrential rains triggered flash floods and debris flows that devastated the coastal state of Vargas.
Date
June 24, 2026
Magnitude
7.2 and 7.5 degrees
Deaths
More than 1,450
Injured
More than 3,150
Missing
Approximately 70,000
International Rescuers
More than 2,200 from 24 countries
Tsunami's story reminds us that even from the darkest situations, heroes can emerge. His transformation from abandoned dog to life-saver is a testimony to the power of second chances and the unbreakable bond between humans and working animals.
Source: La Gaceta
Alfredo S. Quiroga
