Man rescued eight days after Venezuela earthquakes in 'miracle'
A 43-year-old security guard was rescued from a collapsed building eight days after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. The death toll has surpassed 2,295, with over 13,000 homeless.
In a rare moment of hope amid devastation, rescue workers pulled 43-year-old Hernan Gil from the rubble of a collapsed seven-storey building in the coastal town of Catia La Mar on Thursday. Gil, a security guard, had been trapped for eight days after twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 hit Venezuela last week.
Rescuers had located Gil three days earlier but needed time to free him. Teams from seven countries – Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico – worked together. According to Cristian Vera, leader of the Chilean team, they dug a three-metre (9.8-foot) tunnel to reach Gil and had been providing him with water and oxygen via a hose in recent days.
Gil's wife, Gusbimar Gonzalez, called the rescue a "miracle." However, Al Jazeera's correspondent on the ground noted that many buildings in La Guaira state have been marked with a "D" for deceased, and the chances of finding more survivors are dwindling.
Venezuela's government reports at least 2,295 confirmed deaths and 11,000 injured. An estimated 60,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, leaving 13,000 people homeless. Approximately 50,000 people remain missing.
As the focus shifts from rescue to humanitarian aid, concerns are rising over a potential health crisis. Medical centers are understaffed and lack critical equipment. The World Food Programme has appealed for $50 million to feed 500,000 people for three months, while the UN Development Programme estimates $6.7 billion in physical damage.
Several countries have pledged aid, including the United States, which has offered $300 million. Journalists warn that Venezuela, already struggling with economic hardships, will need international assistance for years to come.
