Rescuers Dig Out Venezuelan Security Guard Alive 8 Days After Quakes; Death Toll Nears 2,300

A moment of hope emerged from the devastation in Venezuela as rescuers pulled a 43-year-old security guard, Hernan Gil, alive from the ruins of a collapsed building. The rescue occurred eight days after powerful earthquakes struck the nation, claiming nearly 2,300 lives and leaving countless people missing.

Gil was found in the rubble of a seven-story building in Catia La Mar, a coastal town that suffered widespread destruction. His survival, after being trapped for so long, was described as a miracle by his wife, Gusbimar Gonzalez, who spoke to AFP as rescue efforts were underway.

The painstaking operation involved a collaborative effort from rescue teams representing seven nations: Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico. These international teams worked continuously for three days to reach Gil. During the extraction, they managed to provide him with hydration through a hose and installed a tube for his care.

“

This is truly a miracle