Rescue workers have successfully retrieved two 11-year-old boys from the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Venezuela, following a pair of powerful earthquakes. The rescues occurred within hours of each other, offering a glimmer of hope amidst a disaster that has claimed at least 1,430 lives and left tens of thousands missing.
The first survivor, identified as Moises, was saved after spending days buried under nearly ten feet of debris. Rescue teams from Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) dedicated six hours of precise work to reach him. Sadly, reports indicate he was found near his deceased mother and sister.
Not long after, interim President Delcy Rodríguez shared footage showing a second 11-year-old boy being extracted from wreckage in the town of Caraballeda. The coastal La Guaira region has suffered the most severe damage, with many residents forced to seek shelter at a local golf course turned into a makeshift medical and supply hub. Frequent aftershocks continue to hinder recovery efforts and distress survivors.
Despite more than 85 hours passing since the initial quakes, search teams maintain that finding survivors remains possible. International aid groups from countries including Mexico, Spain, and the UK have joined the operation, utilizing specialized equipment like micro-drones to locate those still trapped. While the government has mobilized military support, some citizens have expressed frustration regarding the speed of the rescue response in the hardest-hit neighborhoods.
