Rescue dog Tsunami finds 12 survivors in Venezuela earthquake rubble

On the ground after the quake

Tsunami, a nine-year-old Border Collie, has been working relentlessly in the rubble since Friday, 26 June, when the earthquakes struck Venezuela. The disaster left hundreds dead and tens of thousands missing, with La Guaira and parts of Caracas among the worst-hit areas. Tsunami and his handler, Jorge Beens, are part of the K-SAR ECID canine disaster intervention unit. According to local press, the dog has already helped locate 12 people alive in the debris.

A survivor turned saviour

Tsunami was rescued from abandonment and severe mistreatment in 2017 by the Venezuelan animal protection group APROA. Recognising his potential, the association entrusted him to Jorge Beens, who trained him for disaster search and rescue. The dog had already deployed to Turkey and Syria after the 2023 earthquakes and to landslide zones in Las Tejerías and El Castaño. Today he is among Venezuela's most experienced search dogs, with an Instagram following of over 21,000.

A critical find in Caracas

During operations at the Residencias Rita complex in the San Bernardino district of Caracas, Tsunami signalled the presence of a trapped person. That alert led rescuers to a man aged about 60, buried under concrete and twisted metal. The rescue, captured on video, required absolute silence on site so that the dog could detect faint sounds or scents from survivors.

Working method

Tsunami's detection protocol relies on his powerful sense of smell. He advances through debris while his handler and the team maintain perfect quiet. When he picks up a scent compatible with a living person, he stops and communicates the find through a trained behaviour, allowing crews to concentrate digging at the indicated spot. For the dog, the work is a game built on trust, communication and reward.