Rescuers work for days to save man trapped under rubble for nearly a week in Venezuela

A delicate and dangerous rescue operation is underway in Venezuela's La Guaira state for Hernán Gil, who has been trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building for nearly a week following powerful earthquakes.

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The problem - to get him out - is for his safety, Hernán is in the basement, there is a lot of load of materials, it is a very sensitive operation because of that.

A team of 100 rescuers, including specialists from Portugal, Chile, and the United States, has been working for over 48 hours to reach Gil, who is located in the building's basement. The operation is described as highly sensitive due to the significant load of debris and the risk of further collapse.

Rescuers are maintaining constant communication with Gil, providing him with hydration and medication. However, the extraction process is proceeding slowly and cautiously. "We are very close but need maximum safety, we are working slowly. We have to get closer to make it safe to extract him without compromising him or us," stated one of the Portuguese rescuers.

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We are very close but need maximum safety, we are working slowly. We have to get closer to make it safe to extract him without compromising him or us.

Gil's wife, Gusbimar González, has been at the site since the earthquakes struck last Thursday. She reports that access to her husband is difficult, and rescuers are using manual tools to clear debris to avoid using heavy machinery that could destabilize the structure further. She mentioned that Gil has been surviving thanks to a protective structure within the basement.

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It is difficult to know how long, now we are working with a sonic scanner.

The multinational rescue effort is part of a larger international response to the earthquakes, which have claimed thousands of lives and left many injured across Venezuela. The exact duration of the rescue operation remains uncertain as the proximity to Gil increases the risks involved.

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What they do tell me is that access to him is a bit difficult and that they are trying to remove the debris with manual tools because they cannot bring in machines since the building is very affected.