A rare moment of hope emerged in Venezuela after a 43‑year‑old security guard, trapped for eight days beneath the rubble of a collapsed seven‑storey building, was pulled out alive by an international rescue team. The man, identified as Hernan Gil, survived the twin earthquakes that devastated large parts of the country and pushed the official death toll to 2,295.
Gil had been working in the building in Catia La Mar, a coastal area in La Guaira state, one of the worst‑hit regions. Rescue teams from seven countries — Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico — collaborated in a complex, multi‑day operation to reach him.
The rescue effort lasted three days, during which teams carefully removed debris layer by layer. In the final stage, two rescuers crawled through a three‑metre tunnel carved through the collapsed structure while around 30 personnel cleared rubble from the parking area above. When they finally reached Gil, he was conscious and responsive.
He was lifted onto a stretcher as rescuers applauded, hugged each other, and celebrated the rare success amid a disaster marked by widespread destruction and loss of life. Gil was immediately taken to an ambulance and transported for medical treatment.
The twin earthquakes have caused catastrophic damage across Venezuela, flattening buildings, cutting off essential services and leaving thousands homeless. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors, though hopes are fading as more time passes.
If you want, I can also break down how multinational rescue teams coordinate or explain why survival beyond a week under rubble is possible.