Man Rescued Alive After 8 Days Under Rubble; Global Aid Rises for Venezuela

In a remarkable display of human resilience, Hernán Gil was rescued alive on Thursday, eight days after being trapped under 140 tons of debris in Venezuela following powerful earthquakes.

Gil, who was working in a guardhouse at the base of a building in Catia La Mar, in the state of La Guaira, survived for eight days before a nearly 72-hour rescue operation brought him to safety. A team of approximately 100 rescuers, including specialists from Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, maintained constant communication with him, providing hydration and medication.

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, celebrated the rescue, tweeting, "We celebrate the greatness of the human being when they unite for a single purpose: to save another. Thank you to our rescuers and the support of international rescuers!" Gil is now receiving medical care at the Hospital de Clínicas Caracas for injuries including a dislocated left clavicle.

Meanwhile, international assistance continues to pour into Venezuela. Hungary is sending humanitarian aid valued at 705,000 euros, including medical supplies, and a financial contribution of 282,000 euros. Romania has dispatched a plane with medical supplies, tents, blankets, and sleeping bags. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has pledged at least one million dollars to aid the recovery efforts. The UN reports that 13 people have been rescued alive by international teams, while the death toll from the earthquakes has risen to 2,295, with 11,267 injured.

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We celebrate the greatness of the human being when they unite for a single purpose: to save another. Thank you to our rescuers and the support of international rescuers!