A dog named Draco was rescued alive this Tuesday in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, after being trapped for 12 days under the rubble of his home, collapsed by the devastating double earthquake that shook Venezuela on June 24.
The dog's family had arrived at the site looking for their grandmother, two dogs, and three cats that had gone missing after the earthquake.
It was a faint bark that led them through the ruins to find Draco alive, according to the video shared by YOYOPRESS NOTICIAS on the social network X.
"It's Draco! It's Draco!" is heard exclaiming those present at the moment of the discovery, in a scene that captures the blend of anguish, pain, and relief that has defined the rescue efforts in La Guaira.
A drawer located beneath a collapsed wall cushioned the weight of the debris and sheltered the animal for almost two weeks.
A person identified as Jair risked their safety to reach him and pull him out from the rubble.
"Jair risked his life to save Drako, a demonstration of love. The good outnumber the bad," read one of the texts in the rescue video.
After being rescued, Draco was immediately assisted by the Veterinary Brigade, the care center set up for animals affected by the tragedy in La Guaira, and then transferred to an Emergency Veterinary Center to continue his recovery.
"There are looks that say it all. This champion endured 12 days trapped under the rubble in La Guaira," described another of the texts that accompanied the images.
The case of Draco is not the only extreme animal survival recorded after the earthquake. Dog Milo was also rescued after 12 days under the rubble of a building in La Guaira, in a joint operation by the Topos Azteca from Mexico and the USAR from El Salvador.
On July 3, the dog Buddy, a six-year-old Yorkshire, was rescued alive after eight days in Caraballeda. The parrot Panchito survived nine days under the rubble, although he died that same day from dehydration.
The two earthquakes on June 24—with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, occurring just 39 seconds apart—are considered the worst seismic disaster recorded in Venezuela in over a century.
Caraballeda was one of the most affected areas due to its combination of soft soil and deep basin, which worsened the collapse of buildings.
Until July 7, the official toll stood at 3,685 dead and 16,740 injured, and approximately 50,000 missing according to the UN, with 158 of the 190 collapsed buildings across the country concentrated in La Guaira.
"In the midst of horror, stories like this remind us that every life matters," concluded YOYOPRESS while sharing the images of Draco's rescue.
Filed under: