Date: January 2024
Location: Ávila National Park, Caracas, Venezuela
In January 2024, a Chinese citizen was reported missing in the ‘Ávila National Park’, a mountainous and heavily forested area just north of Caracas. Rescue International was engaged to support the search by providing technical analysis and witness assessment.
Our team conducted detailed analysis of cellular network data from the subject’s last call, establishing a probable coverage zone. Simultaneously, key witness statements were obtained by us and assessed, leading to an update of both the Point Last Seen (PLS) and the subject’s likely direction of travel.
This combined intelligence allowed us to reduce the original search area from a vast expanse to 3.8 square kilometers, and later to a focused 0.639 square kilometers. Ultimately, the search effort was narrowed to a linear feature spanning only a few hundred meters. This level of precision enabled local partners, working in coordination with the forest service, to deploy teams directly into the prioritized zone.
Tragically, the subject was found deceased within the refined search area. The case underscores the importance of timely technical inputs and structured analysis in land-based SAR operations, particularly in difficult terrain where time and focus are critical.
