"I have a new lease on life," says earthquake survivor in Venezuela

Migdalia Carros, a 56-year-old publicist, described her rescue from the rubble of her Chacao apartment building as a "new opportunity in life" after surviving a devastating double earthquake on June 24. Her father perished in the collapse.

"I went down to hell and God rescued me from there," Carros said, recounting the 39 seconds the building crumbled around her. Despite losing her home, she expressed no fear of the future, crediting her "wonderful" neighbors and the local mayor's office for support.

Another survivor, 62-year-old Iván Gutiérrez, described being trapped in a Caracas shopping center when the roof collapsed, blocking escalators. He managed to reunite with his family and find his vehicle to search for others.

The twin earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck northern Venezuela on June 24, causing widespread destruction. The official toll stands at 2,954 deaths, 16,592 injuries, and 16,309 people displaced. The state of La Guaira, near the capital, was declared a disaster zone and militarized due to extensive building collapses.

In response to the crisis, acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez announced financial assistance for victims, including six months of payments and a government-backed mortgage program with an 80% subsidy. The earthquakes significantly impacted Caracas and La Guaira, with numerous buildings destroyed.