Guayaquil firefighters detect person alive under debris in Venezuela

A glimmer of hope emerged in Macuto, Venezuela, as the USAR ECU-11 team from Guayaquil firefighters detected a person alive beneath the debris of a collapsed nine-story building. The structure was reduced to five levels after the earthquake.

The Ecuadorian rescue team has officially begun its operations in the assigned intervention zone, coordinating closely with other national and international teams at the USAR Cellular Coordination Post (UCC). Following a structural assessment, rescuers employed listening techniques, technological search methods, and deployed a canine unit to confirm the presence of a survivor.

"As long as there is a sign of life, we will never stop searching," the Bomberos Guayaquil stated on social media, underscoring their commitment. The team has initiated the process of creating a controlled access point to reach the individual trapped within the unstable structure. Rescue efforts continued through the night and early morning.

Beyond the critical search and rescue mission, the USAR ECU-11 team's psychologists are offering vital emotional support to families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones. They are also assisting in delivering difficult news and providing comfort alongside medical and rescue personnel. Earlier, the psychologists successfully persuaded an elderly man to evacuate his building, ensuring his safety and providing emotional care.