International rescue teams detected signs of life from 21 people trapped under the rubble of the building Oasis Beach, located in the Playa Grande sector of La Guaira, Venezuela, nine days after the devastating double earthquake that struck the country.
The first signs of life in that building were recorded on June 27, when messages were received from inside via radio and communication through WhatsApp.
Days later, it was confirmed that among those trapped was Vice Admiral Gustavo Romero Matamoros, director of the Police of La Guaira, who managed to contact his wife using radio transceivers and Morse code signals, informing her that he was with 20 other people in an "air capsule" formed among the rubble.
The government had declared him dead before that confirmation.
According to the report recorded at 7:26 AM on Thursday, July 2, from Playa Grande, rescuers from Taiwan—who arrived the day before—and teams from El Salvador are working at the site alongside two Mexican specialists in underground rescue, known as "moles," including Mr. Aranza.
"There would be at least 21 people here, and the work that the rescuers from Taiwan are doing right now also includes two Mexican searchers, one of them being Mr. de Aranza," noted the journalist present at the scene.
The main technical challenge is the instability of the reinforced concrete slabs, which prevents rapid progress without putting the survivors at risk.
"They are looking for a way to move the debris without impacting the air capsule that would be protecting these people," the reporter explained on site. Trained dogs are helping to pinpoint the exact location where those trapped are.
A key factor for the international teams to return to the building was the determination of the victims' families.
"The persistence of the family members in searching for life, family members who have worked with their hands, with their nails, alongside the efforts of volunteers who have come from other regions of the country, has been crucial for international rescuers to return to this place," emphasized the journalist.
According to the experience of the Mexican Topos, the survival threshold in disasters of this magnitude can extend between 10 and 15 days if there are minimal conditions for ventilation and hydration, which keeps the hope of a successful rescue alive.
The double earthquake of June 24, 2026 —two tremors of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 occurring just 39 seconds apart— is the most devastating seismic disaster in Venezuela since 1900.
As of July 1, the official count had risen to 2,295 dead, over 11,000 injured, and about 50,000 missing according to UN estimates.
The Cuban community has also been severely affected by the tragedy: a Cuban family of six was found dead under the rubble of Oasis Beach and surrounding buildings, and at least 21 Cubans remain missing in La Guaira.
Among them is the 10-year-old boy Dayán Martínez, confirmed to be alive in the Coral Beach building in Los Corales, where rescuers are still working to reach him.
More than 2,200 rescuers from 17 countries and 137 trained dogs are participating in rescue efforts throughout Venezuela, in what has become one of the largest rescue operations in the recent history of Latin America.
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