In a miraculous rescue emergency teams have pulled a 44-year-old security guard alive from the ruins of a collapsed shopping mall in Venezuela’s La Guaira state nearly eight days after two massive earthquakes devastated the northern coast.
Hernan Alberto Gil was carried out on a stretcher Thursday morning. He survived the ordeal by receiving hydration through a tube inserted by rescuers. An international coalition of rescue teams navigated highly unstable ruins eventually digging a second tunnel to safely extract him.
The 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude quakes, which struck less than a minute apart have severely damaged the region. The official government death toll stands at 2,295 though the US Geological Survey estimates fatalities could exceed 10,000. Roughly 38,600 people remain missing on unofficial tracking lists.
The immediate disaster response has been overwhelmingly driven by civilians. Volunteers alongside foreign rescue teams and firefighters, have been digging through concrete with hand tools due to a critical lack of heavy machinery. Citizens are also running makeshift shelters and transporting basic supplies on motorcycles.
Medical facilities are stretched to their limits. While the initial surge of patients has slightly eased at local hospitals, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the disaster has compounded an already severe humanitarian crisis. In response, the WHO has released $1.5 million in emergency funds and dispatched trauma kits and supplies.
Amid the tragedy and civilian heroism, public frustration is mounting over isolated incidents of looting. Venezuela's Interior Ministry confirmed the detention of four police officers accused of stealing assets from the ruins highlighting the complex challenges facing the nation's recovery efforts.
