More than five days after the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela, a minor was rescued alive from the rubble of a building in the Caribbean sector of La Guaira state, one of the areas hardest hit by the tragedy, reported the agency EFE on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Communication and Information of the Venezuelan regime announced the discovery through the social network X at 9:16 PM (local time) on Monday, although it did not specify the exact time of the rescue or the identity or age of the child.
The discovery represents one of the most hopeful rescues since the double earthquake on June 24 devastated large areas of the country and boosts the expectations of the emergency teams that are still searching for survivors.
The news arrived just a day after another minor, Carlos Miguel Colmenares, 12 years old, was rescued alive from the rubble of a building in Macuto, also in La Guaira. The operation involved the USAR ECU-01 team from the Quito Fire Department, made up of 47 Ecuadorian specialists, with the support of rescuers from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, who used endoscopic cameras to locate the boy before extracting him.
Following the announcement of the new rescue, the Venezuelan regime released a message stating that "the miracle of life is a victory of hope and the perseverance of our rescuers, firefighters, volunteers, and security forces. Each life saved is the light that shines upon the rubble."
The earthquakes of June 24, 2026 —with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, recorded just 39 seconds apart— are the strongest seismic events to occur in Venezuela since 1900, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Their epicenters were located in Yaracuy state, and the tremors were felt from Colombia to several Caribbean islands, including Aruba and Curacao.
The official toll has already surpassed 1,719 dead and 5,034 injured. Additionally, authorities report over 15,800 people affected and 855 buildings impacted, of which 189 have completely collapsed. However, the UN estimates that there could be up to 50,000 missing persons, while the USGS considers it likely that the actual death toll is significantly higher than the official number.
Satellite images analyzed by NASA indicate that nearly 59,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, especially in coastal areas such as Caraballeda, Macuto, and Catia La Mar.
Among the confirmed victims are citizens of various nationalities, including 60 Portuguese, 11 Italians, and at least two Cubans. On June 29, a Cuban family of six was found dead under the rubble in La Guaira, while at least another 32 Cubans remain missing in that area.
More than 2,000 rescuers from 27 countries, coordinated by the United Nations, continue their search and rescue efforts. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that the direct damages caused by the earthquakes amount to 6.7 billion dollars, although the total economic impact could range between 10.05 billion and 20.1 billion dollars.
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