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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Rescuers pull Venezuelan man alive eight days after quakes

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Rescuers in Venezuela pulled a 43-year-old man alive from earthquake rubble eight days after the disaster.
  • The rescue of Hernan Gil was considered a miracle amid a rising death toll nearing 2,300 and widespread destruction.
  • International teams worked for three days to extract Gil, while focus shifts to survival for the homeless and those facing scarce resources.

In Catia La Mar, Venezuela, a remarkable rescue unfolded eight days after twin earthquakes devastated the region. Hernan Gil, a 43-year-old security guard, was pulled alive from the ruins of a collapsed seven-story building, a feat hailed as a miracle by his wife and international rescue teams.

The painstaking operation involved teams from seven countries working for three days to reach Gil. They provided him with water and oxygen before carefully extracting him from the debris. This astounding rescue offers a glimmer of hope amidst a tragic disaster, with the official death toll approaching 2,300 and thousands still missing.

This is truly a miracle.

— Gusbimar GonzalezHernan Gil's wife, Gusbimar Gonzalez, told AFP as rescuers worked to rescue him.

While Gil's survival is a testament to the rescuers' dedication, the broader situation in Venezuela remains dire. The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, have left nearly 60,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. Many survivors are now homeless, facing shortages of food and water, and strained medical facilities. Experts warn of potential disease outbreaks as the focus shifts from rescue to survival for those who escaped the quakes.

It wasn’t easy to reach the exact spot where the victim was located.

— Cristian VeraThe leader of the Chilean rescue team, Cristian Vera, told AFP about the challenges of the rescue operation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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