‘Miracle’: Trapped man rescued eight days after Venezuela earthquakes | Earthquakes News
Rescue Efforts Continue in Venezuela After Devastating Earthquakes
A man was rescued from the ruins of a collapsed building eight days after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, resulting in widespread devastation. Authorities reported the rescue of 43-year-old security guard Hernan Gil on Thursday, drawing focus away from survivor searches to the pressing humanitarian needs of thousands displaced by the disaster.
The earthquakes, which registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 last week, have caused significant damage, with estimates indicating that approximately 60,000 buildings were either damaged or destroyed. The aftermath has left around 13,000 individuals homeless.
Venezuela’s government confirmed at least 2,295 fatalities and 11,000 injuries in its latest update, with the death toll expected to rise as roughly 50,000 people remain unaccounted for. In the coastal city of Catia La Mar, rescue workers succeeded in accessing Gil after days of attempts to reach him beneath a collapsed seven-storey structure.
Gil had been identified three days prior to his rescue. Teams from seven countries—including Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico—collaborated in the recovery efforts. Cristian Vera, leader of the Chilean rescue team, reported that rescuers had to excavate a three-meter tunnel to reach Gil, who had been receiving water and oxygen through tubes while trapped.
“This is truly a miracle,” Gil’s wife, Gusbimar Gonzalez, expressed to AFP.
While Gil’s survival story has offered hope to some families, many rescue operations across the nation have ended in tragedy. In La Guaira, north of Caracas, numerous buildings have been marked with the letter “D” to indicate no signs of life. Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi noted the immense scale of destruction, stating that the prospect of finding additional survivors diminishes with each passing day, prompting a shift in rescue efforts to humanitarian assistance.
Emergency response teams are now preparing to transition from search and rescue to relief operations, as humanitarian workers raise alarms about potential health crises stemming from the earthquakes. Overburdened medical facilities may struggle with untreated injuries and escalating infectious diseases, a concern that highlights the long-standing deficiencies in Venezuela’s health system.
The World Food Programme has requested $50 million to provide aid to approximately 500,000 individuals over the next three months. The United Nations Development Programme estimates reconstruction costs will reach $6.7 billion, based on satellite assessments. Several nations and regional organizations have committed financial assistance, including $300 million from the United States.
Reporting from Caracas, Al Jazeera journalist Noris Soto emphasized the critical need for international aid in the aftermath of both the earthquakes and the existing economic crisis plaguing Venezuela. “The country has faced significant economic hardships for the past two decades; this disaster compounds those challenges,” she said, underscoring the urgent need for sustained support.