A man has been rescued from a collapsed building eight days after twin earthquakes devastated Venezuela.
The rescue operation on Thursday marked a rare triumph amid shifting priorities as search efforts increasingly focus on addressing the humanitarian needs of thousands displaced by the disaster.
Last week’s magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes caused widespread destruction, damaging or destroying approximately 60,000 buildings and leaving 13,000 people homeless. The government reported 2,295 confirmed deaths, 11,000 injuries, and over 50,000 individuals still missing.
In a poignant moment of hope, rescuers finally located 43-year-old security guard Hernan Gil, who had been trapped for days beneath the rubble of a seven-story building in Catia La Mar, a hard-hit coastal area. International rescue teams from Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico collaborated to secure his extraction.
“This is truly a miracle,” said Gil’s wife, Gusbimar Gonzalez, speaking to AFP. Chilean rescue leader Cristian Vera described the operation’s complexity, detailing how teams dug a 3-meter tunnel to safely retrieve Gil. During his ordeal, rescuers sustained his vitality through a water hose and oxygen tube.
“It wasn’t easy to reach the exact spot where the victim was located,” Vera noted. Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi reported that while Gil’s survival offers solace, many collapsed structures in La Guaira—north of Caracas—bear the letter “D,” indicating no signs of life. Experts warn that the immense scale of destruction, compounded by time, makes further rescues increasingly unlikely.
“The footprint of this disaster is so vast, with 58,000 damaged or destroyed buildings, the chances of finding more survivors dwindle daily,” Basravi stated. He added that emergency operations are transitioning toward humanitarian relief, emphasizing the urgent need for medical care, clean water, and shelter.
Humanitarian agencies highlight mounting risks, as Venezuela’s strained health system—already crippled by shortages of equipment, trained staff, and power—faces potential outbreaks of disease and untreated injuries.
The World Food Programme has appealed for $50 million to feed 500,000 people over three months, while UN estimates place infrastructure damage costs at $6.7 billion via satellite analysis. International support includes a $300 million pledge from the U.S., despite political tensions surrounding President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. continues backing interim President Delcy Rodríguez, though critics highlight inadequate disaster preparedness.
Journalist Noris Soto, reporting from Caracas for Al Jazeera, underscored the long-term challenges: “Venezuela’s economic crisis over two decades has left citizens vulnerable. This disaster will demand sustained aid for years to rebuild communities and restore stability.”