11-Year-Old Boy Rescued After 70 Hours Under Rubble in Venezuela

A Colombian rescue team assisting in earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela has rescued an 11-year-old boy who had been trapped under rubble for 70 hours. Colombia's Ministry of Defense confirmed the rescue on social media, stating that the operation was carried out by the USAR COL-1 unit.

The ministry noted that the successful rescue "fills us with hope and strengthens our mission to continue searching for survivors." Meanwhile, Venezuela's National Assembly reported that the death toll from the earthquakes has risen to at least 1,430 people.

As previously reported, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on the evening of June 24, causing widespread building collapses. By the morning of June 25, authorities had confirmed 32 deaths and 700 injuries, but the death toll later climbed to 164. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that the final number of fatalities could exceed 10,000.