Venezuela earthquake survivor recounts days trapped in rubble as death toll climbs

Juan Zapata had just finished dinner when twin earthquakes ripped across Venezuela's coast 10 days ago. He was thrown across his fifth-floor apartment and later found himself trapped in the rubble for two days and seven hours. Rescuers eventually pulled him out, but he was shocked to learn he was in the "lower basement" of his building.

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When they were rescuing me I said, ‘I’m on the fifth floor’ and they told me, ‘no, you’re in the lower basement.’ I couldn’t believe what had happened to me.

Zapata is now recovering at a field hospital in La Guaira state, run by Samaritan's Purse. He suffered fractured ribs and serious cuts and scrapes. "All my material things were lost, but God has given me health," he said. He lost his phone, identification, and other documents in the quake, preventing him from contacting family abroad.

The government has raised the official death toll to 2,954, deploying nearly 30,000 officials and 3,281 international rescue workers. More than 16,000 people are homeless, living in shelters or tent encampments. An unofficial count of the missing exceeds 41,000.

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All my material things were lost, but God has given me health.

The field hospital has treated about 400 patients, with nearly 30 surgeries planned. Medical director Peter Holz noted that while there are "a lot of sad stories," there is also "a lot of hope."

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It will develop more into a community health center. There’s a lot of sad stories but also a lot of hope in the midst of all of it.