Cuban Search and Rescue Team Returns to Cuba from Ecuador

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 28 (acn) The Cuban Search and Rescue team that offered its help to the victims of the devastating earthquake that took place in Ecuador on April 16, returned to Havana almost at midnight on Wednesday.
Comprised of 29 technicians, the group worked for 10 days in the northwestern coastal area affected by the earthquake of 7.8 degrees on the Richter scale, which caused heavy human and material losses in the South American nation.
Upon their arrival in this capital the team members were greeted by Marcia Cobas, deputy minister of Public Health; Brigadier General Jose Luis Mesa, of the Ministry of Interior (MININT); Rule Angulo, director of the Central Unit of Medical Cooperation, and other MININT members.
Colonel Luis Carlos Guzman, head of the Fire Department of Cuba, stressed the importance of the mission accomplished, which in addition to helping save lives was a unique experience for the development of this work.
On April 17, one day after the earthquake, Cuba sent to that nation a brigade of the "Henry Reeve" International Contingent of Physicians specialized in dealing with disasters and serious epidemics, to which a Search and Rescue team was added.
That brigade joined the more than 700 health workers who provide services permanently in the South American country, which were mobilized to assist the affected population.
Speaking to journalists in that country, President Rafael Correa stressed the "infinite gratitude" of his people towards the Caribbean nation, and lamented the deaths of three Cuban physicians who were working in the town of Pedernales at the time of the earthquake.
According to the latest official report cited by Prensa Latina news agency, the earthquake of April 16, considered the worst tragedy affecting that country in the last 67 years, has so far caused the death of 659 persons, while 40 are missing, more than 17,000 were injured and nearly 30,000 lost their homes.