Two boys rescued from Venezuela earthquake rubble after days trapped
Two 11-year-old boys were pulled alive from collapsed buildings in Venezuela within hours of each other, following powerful earthquakes that have killed at least 1,430 people and left tens of thousands missing.
Rescuers in Venezuela have succeeded in saving two 11-year-old boys who were trapped for days under the rubble of buildings destroyed by two massive earthquakes. The first boy, named Moises, was pulled from the twisted debris with his eyes covered to protect them from sunlight, to applause from the rescue team. Hours later, interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced the rescue of another 11-year-old boy and posted a video showing him being carried down a mound of wreckage on a stretcher.
The earthquakes, of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck just 39 seconds apart, causing hundreds of buildings to collapse. At least 1,430 deaths have been confirmed, and tens of thousands remain missing. More than 85 hours after the first quake, hope persists that people could still be alive, especially if they have access to food and water under the debris.
According to Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), Moises was buried under about 3 meters (9.8 feet) of debris, and it took a team six hours of high-precision work on Saturday to reach him. A rescuer was overheard on a walkie-talkie saying the boy was found near his mother and sister, both of whom had died.
Aftershocks continue to hamper rescue efforts and terrify residents, many of whom are living in cars or camping in open spaces like airports and golf courses, away from buildings that could collapse. The golf course in Caraballeda has become an epicenter for emergency response, serving as a makeshift hospital and donation center. The surrounding streets are cracked and covered in rubble, with silence broken only by heavy machinery.
International rescue teams from Mexico, Spain, Qatar, the US, and the UK have arrived to reinforce the search. The UN's Tom Fletcher stated that 39 search and rescue teams have been deployed, each comprising 50–100 people, totaling approximately 2,000 personnel and 111 dogs. He mentioned the use of micro drones, called "cockroach drones," to help locate people in buildings.
Despite these efforts, frustration is growing among residents who say the government response is too slow and inefficient. In some of the worst-hit areas like Caribe and Tanaguarena, debris removal has not yet begun. President Rodríguez assured that the social protection system is functioning and international solidarity is present, but many families are still digging through rubble by hand, waiting for heavy machinery to reach their loved ones.
