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LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s International Urban Search and Rescue Team has left for Panama to provide assistance in that country following a magnitude-7.7 earthquake.
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The 10-member support team, dubbed USA-02, was activated by the U.S. State Department on Friday, and departed that night for Panama.
The team consists of six LACoFD members, three structural specialists from the county Department of Public Works and one medical doctor from LA Health Services.
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The county fire department also announced that its 79-member international USAR Heavy Rescue Team has also been alerted for possible deployment.
The earthquake struck Friday afternoon, collapsing buildings and prompting evacuations across the nation. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 6.6.
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No fatalities were immediately reported in the aftermath of the temblors.